Mary Louise Rowland

Mary Louise Rowland, age 96, passed away on Sunday, February 2, 2020, in Palm Bay, Florida. Mary was a long-time resident of Sarasota and Bradenton, Florida. In recent years, she was a resident of Discovery Village of Sarasota Bay in Bradenton, Florida.

Mary was born on September 15, 1923, in Cleveland, Ohio. She was adopted by Thomas and Carina Parr of Cleveland Heights, Ohio at age six. Mary graduated from Shaw High School in East Cleveland, Ohio in 1941 and attended Lindenwood College of St. Charles, Missouri from 1941 - 1942.

At the outbreak of World War II, she joined the United States Navy W.A.V.E.S. Mary attended W.A.V.E.S. boot camp training at Hunter College in Bronx, New York and later became a Section Training Specialist for new recruits. She later served in Washington DC at the Naval Communications Annex D in clerical and recreation worker (lifeguard) duties.

Mary become a certified lifeguard while in the W.A.V.E.S. and used her qualifications to become a Lifeguard on Lake Erie in Willowick, Ohio. As a course of her duties, in 1953, she also became the first deputized policewoman in Lake County, Ohio. In 1955, Mary rescued three men whose boat had overturned on Lake Erie one-quarter mile from the beach. She later became head of security at J.C. Penney in Mentor, Ohio. Mary was a First Lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol Auxiliary of the United States Air Force.

Mary had a great love of nature, animals and birds. She was active in several local Sarasota animal and bird rescue organizations. Mary enjoyed visiting her friends and being in the company of her children and grandchildren. Mary dearly loved visiting Disney World with family and friends.

Mary is survived by son, Michael Parr Rowland and wife Kathleen of Palm Bay, Florida; daughters: Julie Anne Krempasky and husband Jerome of Tucson, Arizona and Lisa Marie Abrahamsen and husband Erik of Darby, Montana; 16 Grandchildren and 24 Great Grandchildren.

Mary Louise Rowland will always be admired and missed; her influence and strength throughout all chapters of her life have inspired many.

A Celebration of life for Mary is being presided by Reverend Elizabeth Turk, and will be held Tuesday, February 25, 2020 from 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM at Robert Toale and Sons Funeral Home, 1221 53rd Ave E, Bradenton, Florida 34203. Following the Celebration of Life memorial service there will be a committal service with military honors at 2:30 PM at Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 State Road 72, Sarasota, Florida 34241.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ManasotaMemorial.com for the Rowland family.