Mary Ann Gregory

Mary Ann Bonnie Jane Gregory, 93, of Newburgh, IN, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, January 9, 2018, in her home. She was born in Louisville, KY on July 15, 1924 to Viola Lillian and Elmo Leon Wootten.

She was a lifelong Catholic. Bonnie, as she was known to family and friends, lived through the Depression and the great Ohio River flood. She was the first in her family to earn a college degree, and graduated from the University of Kentucky with a double major in English and Physical Education in 1945. While a teenager, Bonnie earned her pilot’s license, and worked at the Lexington, KY airfield where she met her future husband, Thomas R. Gregory, who was in pilot training for the Navy. The two were married on July 28, 1946, and remained so for 68 years. Bonnie was the only female pilot in Lexington’s Civil Air Patrol during WWII. Other activities in the war effort included being a Nurse’s Aide volunteer in a Lexington hospital, rolling bandages as a Red Cross volunteer, putting on shows at the local USO with friends, and helping with other needs of the troops. Bonnie loved nature and the outdoors, and was an enthusiastic gardener and bird-watcher. Although an excellent cook, eating out with her family was always a special occasion. Bonnie volunteered at church, as well as many different schools, clubs, and organizations over the years. She loved to play bridge and tennis in her younger years. She was a voracious reader, and enjoyed word search puzzles. Bonnie was a devoted wife and loving mother.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Thomas R. Gregory, Sr.

Survivors include her children, Julie Watson (Chester) of Henderson, KY, Tom Gregory II (Debbie) of Thousand Oaks, CA, Jennifer O’Donnell (Bob) of Foster City, CA, Jill York (Chris) of Tewksbury Township, NJ; grandchildren, Nick Watson of Perkasie, PA, Justin Watson of Suffield, CT, Jason Gregory of Simi Valley, CA, Ryan O’Donnell of Foster City, CA, Ethan York of Central, SC, Kelsey O’Donnell of Foster City, CA, Katelyn York of Tewksbury Township, NJ; and great-grandchildren, Kiley, Bryce and Hunter Watson of Perkasie, PA, Lennox, Alister and Teagan Watson of Suffield, CT.

Private graveside services will be held in Lexington, KY at a later date.