Mary Kathryn Essary, 94, of Chattanooga, formerly of Bridgeport, Alabama, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 26, 2018 surrounded by her family.

Mrs. Essary was born on December 23, 1923 in Bridgeport, Alabama to the late Arthur W. and Sallie Smith. She was a 1942 graduate of Bridgeport High School and later moved to Chattanooga where she spent most of her life. She retired from Loveman’s company in Chattanooga with 30 years of service as a supervisor in the distribution center. She was of the Baptist faith and enjoyed reading, cross-stitching, cooking and spending time with her family. She will be remembered for her fair sense of humor, words of wisdom and all the precious memories made throughout the years. She loved her family, children and grandchildren with the deepest devotion. In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by her husband, George Riley Essary, son, George Arthur Essary, brothers, Arthur Lee Smith, Charles B. Smith, Roy Glenn Rorex and James B. Rorex and a sister, Rachel Rorex Blevins.

Survivors include her sons, Charles R. (Mary Lee) Essary, Carl T. (Sylvia) Essary, daughters, Elizabeth Anne (Dwain) Coffman and Rose Mary (Dennis) Cofer, 7 grandchildren, Charlene, Carla, Tamara, Yogi, Chuck, Robert and Wesley, 16 great-grandchildren, 15 great great-grandchildren, sisters, Rita Rorex Campbell and Winifred Rorex Hoback, brothers, Richard (Sue) Smith and Ralph (Ann) Rorex, several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday, March 3, 2018 in the South Crest Chapel with Chaplain Greg Collins officiating. The family will receive friends on Saturday from 1:00 PM until the service hour.

Please share expressions of sympathy at lane-southcrestchapel.com

Arrangements are by the South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home and Crematory, at the end of historic Missionary Ridge, Rossville.

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