Mary C. Kirkpatrick

The celebration of her life will be held Friday at 1 p.m. at Legacy Church of Christ, 8801 Mid Cities Blvd, N. Richland Hills, TX. Graveside service will follow at Bluebonnet Hills, 5725 Colleyville Blvd, Colleyville. Visitation will be held Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Shannon Funeral Home at 6001 Rufe Snow Dr., Ft. Worth. Donations can be made to the American Cancer Society in honor of all our family that were touched by it.

Mary was born in Fort Worth, TX, April 26, 1927 to N.E. and Catherine McKillip. She graduated from Carter Riverside High in Fort Worth in 1944. Soon she began working for F.A.A. for over a year and then entered Abilene Christian College, where she began dating her future husband, Foy. They married a year and a half later, Feb. 19, 1948. Mary and Foy moved to Terrell, TX for Foy's first job with Southwestern Christian College and Mary gave birth to Elaine and Paul during the four years there. Their next home was in El Paso for 3 years, where their 3rd child, Carol was born. They lived in Sherman, TX for three years before moving back to Fort Worth for 11 years. Foy was a preacher in each of these locations and Mary was the perfect preacher's wife. She was very sweet and loving and enjoyed entertaining guests, friends and family. Her radiant smile and warm inviting demeanor became her trademark for life. Mary was a stay-at-home mom until the children were older. She was actively involved with all the kids' activities. She began working again with F.A.A. the last four years before moving to Lubbock, TX. In Lubbock, she continued working for F.A.A. until retiring in 1994. When Foy retired from Lubbock Christian College, the couple moved to Vienna, Austria for 2 years where Foy was dean at International Christian University and Mary worked part time in the library. They loved the train rides to explore other countries. She loved sending souvenirs home to her children and grandchildren to share her experiences with them. They moved back to Arlington, TX to be close to Carol the last few years of her long battle with breast cancer. Mary and Foy both were devoted to caring for Carol on a daily basis, helping her husband John. Shortly after Carol passed, Foy's health got worse and Mary devoted all her time caring for him for the next two years. For 58 loving years, Mary and Foy were a perfect example of life-long partners in marriage. Mary stayed in their home for two years after Foy's death, enjoying her neighbors and her church activities. She then moved into an independent living apartment building in North Richland Hills to be closer to a sister and brother. She was so excited and happy to rekindle old friendships with many from decades earlier. Each week Elaine went to visit her, many people commented about how much they loved Mary, how she was one of the sweetest people they knew, and how Mary was so pretty and always looked so nice. All who knew Mary knew of her unconditional love of God, her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Her sweet life had a positive and lasting effect on all who knew her.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents N.E. and Catherine McKillip, sister Vivian Collins, loving husband Foy, daughter Carol Prindle and granddaughter Demory Kirkpatrick.

Her surviving family; brother and wife Jimmy and Elvera McKillip, sister Virginia Cumbie, sister and husband Edie and Jim Counts, daughter and husband Elaine and Ron Fuqua, son and wife, Paul and Karen Kirkpatrick, 9 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren will miss her with all of their hearts. We all know she has gone to her heavenly home where the rest of her family is waiting to greet her.

Arrangements under the direction of Shannon Rufe Snow Drive Funeral Chapel, Fort Worth, TX.