Mary Kathryn Rockey

Mary Katheryn Rockey 94, peacefully passed July 13, 2018. Born May 13, 1924 near La Fountaine Indiana in Wabash county to Paul Henry Thomas and Josephine Miller Thomas. She graduated from Lagro High School in Indiana. Family and friends were central to her life, and she was absolutely central to her family and friends. Every circle knew her by a different nickname. In 1946 Indiana, when she eloped with the dapper Delbert Lee Rockey on a dare-devil whim, she was Katie. They lived on the family farm near Defiance, Ohio where her new extended and adored family called her Tommie. In 1952 the still free-spirited Del and Tommie moved their growing family, now with daughter Debbie and son Tim, all the way to Arizona (a bold move by any stretch, but especially daring to live in PHX before central air). In the 60's and 70's she worked for Motorola in Phoenix, AZ. Her life centered around friends and family. In the neighborhood she was Mary K, and her kitchen table was the center of social interactions for everyone who had immigrated to this new central Phoenix neighborhood. She was preceded in death by her husband Delbert Rockey in 1980, and her brother Richard Thomas. She is survived by sister Mid Koehler, daughter Deborah K. Creasman, son Timothy S. Rockey, grandchildren who call her Grammy K; Scott Creasman, Jennifer Creasman, Ryan Rockey, Del Rockey, Francine Rockey, and eight great-grandchildren who call her G.G. Services will be Tuesday August 7, 10:30 AM, at Phoenix Memorial Park and Mortuary, 200 W. Beardsley Road, Phoenix, AZ 85027. In lieu of flowers consider donations to UMOM.org, or calling an old friend for some celebrity gossip, or waking early to sweep your front walk, or going to a good-clean film, or enjoying some summer cherries dipped in chocolate, or making your kitchen table the center-spot your neighborhood needs.