Mary Ann Arnold

Mary Ann Arnold (Gatewood), a cherished mother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend passed away peacefully with family by her side at Norton Brownsboro Hospital with in-patient Hospice on July 4, 2025, at the age of 86. She was born on December 8, 1938, in Louisville, KY to Mary Elizabeth Gatewood and Stanley A. Gatewood, and was the oldest of their seven children. Mary Ann was known to so many as a kind, loving, and generous person, who put others above herself. She loved God, her family, friends, traveling, dining out, movies, roses, and good scotch.

Mary Ann was a graduate of Mercy Academy in Louisville, KY. She went on to Nazareth College (now Spalding University) where she received degrees in chemistry and mathematics. Mary Ann worked and retired from the US Census Bureau in Jeffersonville, IN after 32 years of service. Her love of travel led to a second career as a CruiseOne travel agent. She also volunteered often for the American Red Cross and was a volunteer usher at the Kentucky Center for the Arts for 23 years. She then began her long courageous fight against the debilitating effects of a stroke suffered in 2011.

She is survived by her loving son, Gabriel Arnold, II; brothers Lawrence Gatewood (Delores) and Mark Gatewood (Melissa), sisters Charlene Robertson (Walter) and Teresa Wilkey; long-time friend Gabriel Arnold; former sister in-law and travel companion Pamela Burchett; as well as a multitude of cousins, nieces, and nephews.

She was Godmother to Megan Thomas, Pat Bowles, and Michael Bruenderman. Mary Ann loved the family of Shawn and Stephanie Weatherholt, previous next-door neighbors, their children Mikal, Ashley, Katie, and Jack, and Stephanie’s mother, Trina Jewell, as her own. She was also a devoted mother and grandmother to several fur-babies over the years.

Mary Ann was a long-time member of the St. Margaret Mary Catholic Community. When she could no longer drive, she watched Mass of the Air, read the Bible, and prayed the Rosary every day. She looked forward to receiving communion weekly from Beverly Bruenderman, Rosie and Russ Raque, and Gary Prater. Mary Ann loved spending time with her cousin Sharon Burden. She also appreciated the many little things Lenny Cotter, another former neighbor, did for her.

Mary Ann was predeceased by her parents Stanley A. Gatewood and Mary Elizabeth Gatewood; her brother James Gatewood, his wife, Starr Gatewood, and their children Kersen Gatewood, Christopher Gatewood, and James Gatewood, Jr.; her sister Janey Maeser, her husband Hank Maeser, and her son, Kevin Bowles.

Visitation will be held July 21, 2025, from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Arch L. Heady and Son Funeral Home located at 7410 Westport Road, Louisville, KY 40222. Funeral Service will take place July 22, 2025, at 10:00 am at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church located at 7813 Shelbyville Road, Louisville, KY 40222. Mary Ann will be laid to rest at Louisville Memorial Gardens East.

In lieu of donations, send roses to a loved one, have dinner out or take a trip with family or friends, order a good scotch, and raise your glasses to celebrate Mary Ann’s life and wish her Godspeed.