Born November 19, 1935 to Clare and Florence (Dereich) Christie in Akron, Ohio, she grew up with her brother, Charles (Sonny) and sister, Patricia Anne (Patty) in Granger where Mary enjoyed riding her horse, Giraffe, and summers with her cousins. Mary graduated from Our Lady of the Elms High School in 1953.
After graduating Mary moved to Akron, attended Akron University and was a member of the Newman Club. She worked for and dentist and live at the “Y”, where she met and later married Lawrence “Larry” Knox in 1959.
In the early 60’s, Larry and Mary moved to Atwater, where they raised their three children: Dennis, Barbara, and Delores. Over the years they had a number of animals from horses to hamsters. Mary believed, if you lived on a farm, every day was a vacation.
Mary earned a degree in education from Kent State University and in 1967 began a long career as a teacher for the Waterloo School System, where she truly enjoyed teaching the children in her community. She spoke often of her past students and loved watching them grow and become adults and parents.
Mary was a member of St Joseph’s Catholic Church of Suffield. The friends she made at St. Joseph’s Church were always dear to her and she missed them deeply when she moved to Kentucky in 2016. Mary enjoyed gardening in her flower beds, singing in her parish choir, and the company of her dog, Delilah.
She was predeceased by her parents, husband: Lawrence, brother: Charles Christie, and sister: Patricia (Christie) Lownsbury.
Survivors include her children: Dennis and Donna (Shull) Knox of Marion KY, Barbara and John Petrosky of Santo, TX, Delores and Joe Kimsey of Benton KY, six grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.
Recitation of the Rosary will be at 10:00 am and Funeral Mass will follow at 11:00, both at St Pius in Calvert City, KY on July 26. There will be a meal following the services.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
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