Mary Catherine Donnelly, 97, of Anton, Colorado passed away Thursday, November 15, at the Rainbow Hospice in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin. Mary Catherine was born April 24, 1921 in Clarksville, Tennessee to Russell Baker and Kate Lowry Bates. After graduating from Clarksville High School she studied two years at Austin Peay State College while working at the Montgomery County Court House in Clarksville. It was there that she met her future husband Lieutenant James J Donnelly. James was stationed at Camp Campbell Kentucky, and the couple was married June 10, 1943 on the Army base.

Following WW II, James and Mary Catherine moved to Oklahoma where James worked on his Uncle's ranch. They bought their first land in southern Washington County in 1946, and moved to Colorado permanently the following year with longtime friends Milton and Francis Vice of Genoa. James and Mary Catherine lived and farmed in the Anton area for more than 40 years before Mary Catherine relocated to Akron after James was admitted to the Akron Nursing Home. She later moved to Sun Prairie, Wisconsin to be closer to family. Mary Catherine belonged to the Anton Home Demonstration Club in its early years, and worked for many years on the Washington County Election Board. She relished her dinner and bridge clubs, and remained an avid bridge player until her death. She led a socially active life and was deeply appreciative of her many friends in the Akron, Anton and Flagler areas. Mary Catherine attended the Congregation Church in Flagler and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Akron. Mary Catherine was preceded in death by her husband, James J Donnelly, her son, James "Jimmy" Donnelly Jr., sister Florence E Bates, and brothers Russell Baker Bates Jr. and George E Bates. She is survived by her son Michael E Donnelly and his wife Dorothy of Lake Mills, Wisconsin, and Granddaughters Nicole Schwartz of Washington D.C. and Katherine and Jennifer Donnelly of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

A visitation will be held Monday, November 26, 2018 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Bowin Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Akron.  Interment will follow at the Akron Cemetery.  Memorial donations may be made to the Washington County Food Bank or to the Akron Public Library.