Mrs. Mary Kate Lowrey Dennis, 93, teacher, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away on November 25, 2022. She was born in Oxford, on October 12, 1929, daughter of the late Edwin Stovall Lowrey and Anna Jane Allen Lowrey of Clarksdale.
Mary Kate is preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, artist Warren Cameron Dennis Jr. She is also preceded in death by her beloved siblings Robert Lowrey of Maryville, TN, Bill Lowrey of Sheridan, AR, and Rebecca Lowrey Cramer of Colorado Springs, CO. Mary Kate is survived by her daughter Anna Kathryn Sartin and husband Laddy Sartin, son Warren Cameron Dennis III and wife Terri Dowell-Dennis, son Edwin Lowrey Dennis and wife Denise Lyon Dennis, daughter Martha Dennis and husband Landus Bennett, grandchildren Marianna Sartin Parker and husband Cedric Parker, Kathryn Sartin Drum and husband Russell Drum, Ian Dennis and wife Anna Willis, Max Dennis, Andrew Dennis, Michael Dennis, and great- grandchildren Elijah Parker and Arthur Dennis.
Mary Kate and Warren called North Carolina home for over 55 years. They moved their family to Boone, NC, from Marion, AL, in 1965, and lived there for 49 years before moving to Winston-Salem in 2014 to be closer to family. Mary Kate earned her undergraduate degree from Mississippi’s Blue Mountain College, which was founded by her great-grandfather Brigadier General Mark Perrin Lowrey (the “Preacher General”). She taught elementary school in Mississippi
and, after earning her master's degree in English at Appalachian State University, taught English at Watauga High School, where she also served as advisor to the Journalism Club and oversaw the school newspaper. Mary Kate left Watauga High School to pursue her PhD at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, completing her dissertation on Irish playwright Brian Friel. She then served as an adjunct professor of English at Appalachian State University until her retirement. Warren was a long-time faculty member in the Art Department at Appalachian, so Mary Kate was, by association, connected with many Appalachian faculty. Travel was a passion for Mary Kate. She and Warren traveled to Europe, England, and Ireland several times, organizing student art tours and trips abroad with their grandchildren. They frequently hosted student groups at Appalachian’s residences in New York City and Washington, D.C.
Mary Kate suffered from dementia but never lost her ready smile and sense of humor. She lived a long life surrounded by those who loved her. Along with her passion for travel, Mary Kate is remembered for her love of family, debate, politics, literature, journalism, art, sewing, gardening, amateur architectural drawing, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and camping, and appeared as a frequent figure and influence in Warren’s art. Her love of language arts is represented in this quote by Brian Friel:
“It is not the literal past, the 'facts' of history, that shape us, but images of the past embodied in language.”
The family plans a celebration of life for Mary Kate and a private ceremony to combine their parent’s ashes, to take place sometime in the spring.
“No matter how long the sun may linger on his long and weary journey, at length evening comes with its sacred song.” - Brian Friel
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:
Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation 717 S. Marshall Street, Suite 105B, Winston-Salem, NC 27101 brpfoundation.org
