Mary Kathryn Wilkie

Mary Kathryn Wilkie, 71, of Lakewood, Colorado, passed from this earthly plane into heaven February 15, 2010. She died with her family by her bedside, surrounded by love, after complications following a surgery. Mary was born in Marshalltown, Iowa on July 27, 1938, the daughter of Frank and Pearl (Stebbins) Wilkie. She graduated from St. Mary's Catholic High School, Marshalltown. After earning her teaching certificate from Iowa State Teachers College, she taught school for a time before returning to college. Mary earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Clarke College in Dubuque Iowa in 1960. As a teacher for Jefferson County Public Schools, Denver Public Schools (notably her beloved Knapp Elementary) Mary devoted her life to teaching children to read and write, and to love books and literature. She was awarded a Master of Arts in Psycholinguistics from the University of Colorado at Denver, and went on to earn a further 90 credits of graduate study. She is survived by her elder brother, the Reverend William E. Wilkie of Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa; her children Laureen Harris, Commander Christopher Harris, Tess Hovland, Celeste Kleck, and Cathryn Harris; and by her large extended family; 13 grandchildren, one great-grandson, and three step-grandsons. Mary is also survived by her beloved cousin Dianne Wilkie Berry, her nieces and nephews, and by friends from every stage of her life--from her classmates at the one-room schoolhouse in Timber Creek Township near Marshalltown, to her Clarke girls, her Knapp colleagues, her Easter Seals pool ladies, her writing group, and Brighton Gardens breakfast club. She was preceded in death by her very best friend and fellow teacher, Katie Holstrum, also of Lakewood. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 AM, February 22 at Christ on the Mountain Catholic Church, 13922 W. Utah Avenue, Lakewood, CO. A viewing will be held 2:00 PM, Sunday, February 21, followed by a Rosary at 3:00 PM at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 3020 Federal Boulevard, Denver, CO 80211. Instead of flowers, the family suggests a donation in Mary's honor to one of the following organizations: UNICEF, the Denver Urban Farm, or Catholic Charities of Denver. Denver Post version (also use this for the Times Republican if fees are similar to the Post's) Mary Kathryn Wilkie, 71, of Lakewood, Colorado, passed away February 15 2010 from complications following surgery. Mary, a teacher and reading specialist, is survived by her large extended family and many friends. A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 AM, February 22 at Christ on the Mountain Catholic Church, 13922 W. Utah Avenue, Lakewood, CO. A viewing will be held 2:00 PM Sunday February 21, followed by a Rosary at 3:00 PM at Horan & McConaty, 3020 Federal Boulevard Denver, CO 80211. Instead of flowers, the family suggests donations to UNICEF, Denver Urban Farm, or Catholic Charities of Denver. To share memories and condolences with Mary's family, please click the ""Sign Guestbook"" tab below.