Mary Preston Callahan

Daughter of Morgan Erwin and Marguerite Cavalier Preston, born in Nashville TN April 25, 1920, died on Monday, September 18, 2017 at age 97. She is preceded in death by her parents, her brother, James Harvey (Bobby) Preston and her husband, Major General Daniel F. Callahan.

Delivered at home in Nashville by her grandfather, Dr. James Preston, she was not expected to live, but live she did for almost a century. Her life was guided by unconditional love, courage, integrity, laughter and a great gift for telling terrific stories.

She is survived by her three children, Daniel F. Callahan III (Laura) of Hernando, MS, Timothy P. Callahan (Karen) of Chester, VA, Marguerite E. Callahan of Nashville, TN; four grandchildren, Jane P. Callahan and Margaret H. Callahan of Nashville, TN, Nancy C. Baldwin (Buck) of Estero, FL, Daniel P. Callahan (Frances Veit) of Minneapolis, MN, and Odie Callahan of Nashville, TN.

Mary grew up in Nashville, and graduated from St. Bernard Academy. After graduating from Peabody College in 1943, she moved to Washington D.C., where she was employed by the War Production Board during World War II. Following the war, she met and married her husband, Dan, who was a Colonel in the Army Air Corps. Her husband’s military service took them to assignments in Alabama, England, and back to D.C. In 1963, her husband retired from the U S Air Force and moved to Detroit, MI where he was employed by Chrysler Corporation. In 1967, they moved to Cocoa Beach, FL where her husband worked for NASA during the Apollo Program. Throughout her husband’s career, Mary was a devoted wife, mother, and hostess for endless events and gatherings. She was always welcoming, as she delighted everyone with her story telling and humor. She met President Kennedy, Pope Pius the XII, Queen Elizabeth II, diplomats, dignitaries, and movie stars. Her Southern charm and wit endeared her to all.

When her husband finally retired, they returned and settled in her hometown of Nashville. She was a longtime member of the Centennial Club, The Four Seasons Garden Club, the Retired Officers Wives Club and a parishioner at St. Henry Catholic Church.

The family would like to express gratitude for the care provided over the past months and years by the nurses and staff of Woodcrest at Burton Hills, Alive Hospice and Mary, Queen of Angels, Assisted Living.

A Funeral Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated by Father Dexter Brewer on Friday, September 29 at 10 am, at Christ the King Church, 3001 Belmont Blvd, Nashville TN 37212. There will be a brief eulogy prior to Mass. Visitation will take place one hour earlier at 9 am at the Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Alive Hospice or The Marguerite Callahan Nursing Scholarship Fund, University of Tennessee-Knoxville, College of Nursing.