MARY LOUISE ROWLEY MOONEY Mary Louise Rowley Mooney passed away April 14th, 2014, at home, with family and dear friends by her side. Born September 15th, 1931, in Ravenswood, West Virginia, Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Coit and Margaret Rowley, and her oldest son, Tom Mooney. Those left to cherish her memory include her husband of 61 years, Brigadier General Harley F. Mooney; children Meg Brulatour, Beth Loy, John Mooney and Frank Mooney; daughter-in-law Robin Thornton Mooney, sons-in-law Lon Weingart and Craig Loy; siblings Libby Knotts, Ken Rowley and Margie Simpson; grandchildren Annie and Mary Brulatour, Francis Mooney, and Rachab Mooney Van Vreeswyk; two great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Always outgoing, with a generous spirit and a genuine interest in others, Mary had many wonderful friends, in particular, Mimi Thies; Trini, Jack and Isabel Parsons; and the Marvelous Mahjongg Matriarchs. Mary also maintained close contact with several of her Alpha Xi Delta sorority sisters, and was the 2013-14 Honolulu Alumnae Panhellenic Association delegate. In high school and college, Mary spent summers as a lifeguard, swimming instructor and camp counselor; she was a cheerleader in high school and a member of West Virginia University's synchronized swim team. She met Harley on a blind date at WVU; after they married in 1953, his Army career took them all over the United States, including two tours in Hawaii. Even with five small children, Mary found time to become an accomplished seamstress and tailor; she called herself a hobbyist but she was truly an artist, especially skilled in all forms of needlepoint. She made beautiful hanging tapestries and rugs, using her own patterns. Later, she worked with stained glass, creating large exquisite pieces that now grace the homes of all her children. After Harley retired from the Army, the family settled in Charleston, WV. Mary got her real estate license but couldn't shake the wanderlust. She organized several fantastic family road trips, including one that culminated in a week-long reunion in the glorious Colorado Rockies, an event that mirrored the trip Coit and Margaret Rowley had made with their four children some forty years before. Another once-in-a-lifetime experience was Mary's grand tour of North America with her oldest daughter and three granddaughters: From the northeastern U.S. into and across Canada to the Pacific Northwest and California, finally heading home via a southerly route. Along the way, the travelers visited the incredible Corn Palace of Mitchell, South Dakota and the Devil's Tower in Wyoming; they walked along the blue ice of a glacier and through the ruins of a thousand-year old pueblo; and paid their respects at Mount Rushmore and at Graceland. At the age of 66, Mary decided to truly explore the globe by traveling to various places and living in destination for months at a time. She enjoyed her solo expeditions but took special pleasure in sharing her experiences: Her granddaughters spent their summer vacations in Ireland and Australia; her youngest daughter joined her in Spain, Greece and France; her sons often talk about adventures with Mary in New Zealand, Mexico, and England. Even during her world travels, Mary frequently came back to Hawaii. Her family had always loved life in the islands; it felt like home. In 2006, she settled down for good Well, except for the occasional "road trip" to the mainland, and some brief ventures abroad. Her last big excursion, with two dear friends, took her to Italy shortly after her 80th birthday. Otherwise, she remained in Oahu for the rest of her life, her door ever open to a steady stream of family and friends. That she chose Hawaii as her final destination makes perfect sense to all who knew and loved her; Mary "lived aloha" every day of her life. In lieu of flowers, Mary's family requests that her memory be honored through donations to Islands Hospice at 1301 Young Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 (Attn: Jackie Dunn); Islandshospice.com`
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
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