Mrs. Mary Louise Ashley, age 91, was born October 17, 1932 in Norfolk, Virginia, and died Thursday, March 07, 2024, in Rockvale, Tennessee at her daughter’s residence surrounded by her family. She was the daughter of the late Warren and Ida Lee Harris King, was a caregiver in all that she did, and was a member of Christ Chapel. She spent her time loving and enjoying her family, working in her yard, and being a handywoman in her own right. She was known for her cooking, entertaining, and in her earlier years making clothes for her children – memorable Halloween costumes and Easter outfits for sure. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husband Herbert Stewart Ashley, daughter Theresa Marlene Posey, sisters Norma Lee Vollmer, Gloria Alice Miracle, and Edna Faye Kindley, and her granddaughter Tonya Marie Van Bibber.
Survivors include her children Julie (Jeff) Cantrell, Troy (Manuela) Edwards, Tonya Hughes, and Monica (Rex) Ward, sister Carol Cartwright, grandchildren Carter Cantrell, Ella Cantrell, Sabrina Edwards, Matt Edwards, John Van Bibber, Shawn Ward, Travis Clark (Kimmie Davis), Brent Ray, and Mason Ray, great grandchildren Sammy Edwards, Jude Edwards, Tinley Clark, and Cohen Clark. Several nieces, nephews, and family friends also survive.
Funeral service will be conducted at 3:00 P.M. Friday, March 15, 2024, in the McMinnville Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at DeKalb Memorial Gardens in Smithville, Tennessee. Visitation with the family will be held on Friday from 1:00 P.M. until the time of service at 3:00 P.M. at McMinnville Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Alive Hospice of Murfreesboro in her memory.
