Mary Childress Obituary

Mary Ann Childress died peacefully Tuesday, October 25th, at home in Ft. Collins, Colorado. She was born April 3, 1923 to Anna E. and John Kost in Ramey, Pennsylvania. After living in Pittsburgh she answered the call of duty to her country and joined the U.S. Navy WAVES (Women Accepted to Volunteer Emergency Service) in 1944 . She was assigned to the U.S. Naval Hospital in San Diego, California and there met her husband, Herbert Childress, of 55 years. They were married in 1946 and enjoyed a full and exciting life as a U.S. Army wife for over 30 years, retiring in Colorado Springs in 1973 where Mary Ann was involved with Reach to Recovery and the Retired WAVES Association. She was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert Childress who passed away in 2001. Mary Ann is survived by her children: Mark and wife, Debbie of Ft. Collins, Jeff and wife, Barbara of Coral Springs, Florida, and Holly Anne Cooley and husband, John of Anchorage, Alaska; also sisters:Genevieve Sommers and Barbara Kost; grandchildren: Alicia, Scot, Rebecca and Jacob Childress; John, Mark and Njell Cooley; and Kirsten Shilling; and five great-grandchildren. A celebration of her life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on November 2nd, at St. Josephs Catholic Church in Fort Collins. Donations in memory of Mary Ann may be made to the American Cancer Society or to your local hospice. We love you so much and miss you dearly.