Mary Autry

Mary Edna Rotton Autry, age 67 of Calhoun, passed away on Friday, January 4, 2019 in Kindred Hospital of Rome. Mary was born on May 11, 1951 in Troup County, GA to the late Joseph Rotton and Louise Batchelor Rotton. In addition to her parents, Mary was also preceded in death by: two sisters, Betty Jo Counts and Alice Jackson; brother, Johnny Rotton; nephew, Steve Hewett; niece, Melanie Smith; and Harold and Cora Autry who were more than just a mother-in-law and father-in-law, they accepted her as their daughter. She was a member of East Calhoun Church of God. Mary was a kind, life-loving, giving person. She would help anyone, any way she could. Mary was always devoted to her family and friends. Mary grew up in Troup County, GA with five sisters and one brother. She continued her education for two years after high school at Berry College, as an education major, when she met the love of her life. Mary and “Frog” Newton married in 1971 and began a family. Mary worked many long, hard hours to provide for her family and made a loving home. She worked for several years at Gordon Health Care as a CNA. Mary always made people feel special and showed them she cared for them in her service, in her cooking and baking, in her welcoming spirit when you entered her home. Mary loved decorating for the holidays, Christmas especially. She had a talent for working with flowers, and has passed that love on to her granddaughter, Libby. Mary always made a way, worked extra hours to provide when her children wanted something special or to be a part of something outside of church and school. Mary loved her family, talking to her sisters, spending time with her children and grandchildren. Mary had a special love for her son-in-law, Curtis who loved her as a mom. She always wanted him to pray for her. She was so proud to attend and support her children and grandchildren’s endeavors. She would travel to see Ashli play soccer or march on the football field, Dylan sing at church and march in band, Julia perform in theatre productions, and Libby win pageants or have a special dinner together with her and Jesse. She endured a lot of health issues in her life time, but never let that stop her and always persevered through the hardest of times with a smile and encouraged everyone around her. Mary’s legacy will live on through anyone who knew her, especially her family and friends. Mary is survived by: her husband, Fred Newton Autry; two daughters, Angel Autry Stanley and her husband Curtis, and Dawn Autry Waddell and her husband Bo; and son, Joe Autry and his fiancé CeCe; “Mary was a devoted wife for 47 years, a special and supportive mama to her kids.” Mary is also survived by: her grandchildren, Libby Farmer Nickelson and her husband Jesse; Ashli Rose Farmer, Dylan Curtis Stanley, and Julia Grace Stanley; “She was the best Nannie and loved her babies with all her heart.” Additional survivors include: her special sisters, Doris Jackson, Barbara “Bobbie” Watkins and her husband Carlton, and Nancy Davis and her husband John; nieces and nephews, Jeanette Scott, Pam Weaver, Jeff Crouch, Barbara Parrott, Annette Counts, Amy Davis, Paul Davis, Terri Deieso, Wendy Weston, Debbie Autry, Donna Rinedoller, and Dena Wright. Extended family: Buddy Autry, Marion Autry, Dan and Pat Autry, Steve and Margaret Autry, Wayne and Diane Jackson, Joy Padgett Johnson, Francis Parker Coulter and her husband Bob, Don Leatherwood, Donnie “BAMA” Gaddison, and Louise and Bennie Stanley. “Special people that Mary loved throughout her lifetime that she would want to thank and remember that helped her along the way: Rev, Alford Larson and the late Barbara Larson, Ma and Pa Padgett, and the late Mr. Dan Biggers.” A Celebration of Life will be conducted on Sunday, January 6th at 5 PM from the Chapel of Thomas Funeral Home with Reverend Keith Reid, Reverend Al Larson, Reverend Marvin Jackson, and Reverend David Peeler officiating. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 3:30 PM until the funeral hour at 5 PM at the funeral home. You may leave the family online condolences at www.thomasfuneralhomecalhoun.com Thomas Funeral Home oversees the arrangements for Mary Edna Rotton Autry, age 67 of Calhoun.