Mary McKinley Lovett

Mary McKinley Lovett, of 339 Wynfield Mews Lane, Louisville, died Monday, August 22, 2005. A native of Harlan and long time resident of Owensboro, Mrs. Lovett was born June 16, 1930 to the late John Henry, Sr. and Nina Howard McKinley. Mary attended Harlan public schools, Ward Belmont College, and the University of Kentucky, where she was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority.

She devoted her life to her husband of 52 years, Wells T. Lovett, her children and family, her friends and her community.

One of her lifelong friends described her sweetness and generous spirit: She never did anything but the most appropriate thing, she put her family first, cherished her friends, and had unlimited kindness.

She was a member of Settle Memorial United Methodist Church where she was a frequent soloist in the choir and returned to her Episcopal roots at Trinity Episcopal Church, where she also sang in the choir, served on the vestry, and established a program supporting music at the church.

She gave her time to many civic causes, and loved music, gardening, and her many friends.

She was a master gardener and member of the Fleur de Lis garden club. A patron of the arts, she was a member of the Symphony Board, President of the Hospital Guild, President of the Owensboro Cotillion Club, Founding Member of the Owensboro Junior League, served on the Owensboro School Board, and a member of the Married Ladies Reading Club. She loved to ski and Aspen was a special place and played tennis with a regular group of some of her closest friends.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her sons, John Thomas Lovett and his wife Melissa, of Louisville; Howard Wells Lovett and his wife Kelly, of Fort Worth, Texas; and James Whitfield Lovett and his wife Jacqueline of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and her ten granddaughters, Mary Rachael Lovett Barr, Elizabeth Leigh Lovett, Sarah Camille Lovett, Caroline McKinley Lovett, Brittain Stevens Lovett, Sibley Whitfield Lovett, Eliza Pflittner Lovett, Anne Bouquet Lovett, McKinley Claire Lovett, and Brittainy Marie Lovett. She is also survived by her sister, Mrs. Nancy McKinley East of Marietta, Georgia, and her children, Marie, Sanders, John and Elyssa, her brother, Rear Admiral John Henry McKinley, Jr. (Ret.), and his wife, Winkle, of Kingsport, Tennessee, and their child Mary Hayes .

Funeral services are 2 P.M.(CDST) Thursday, August 25, 2005 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Owensboro. Private burial will be in Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville on Friday. Visitation with the family will be from 2-4 P.M. (EDST) Wednesday, August 24 at St. Francis of the Field Episcopal Church in Louisville. Visitation in Owensboro will be from 10 A.M. to 12:30 P.M.(CDST) on Thursday at Glenn Funeral Home.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to Hospice and Palliative Care of Louisville.