Mary Beth Lackey Rose

Mary Lackey Rose, age 91, peacefully went to her heavenly home on Saturday, August 17, 2024, in hospice care surrounded by family. She was born in Caldwell County on March 1, 1933, to the late Clyde Lackey and Pearl Coffey Lackey. Mary lived by the Bible she read daily and spent the largest portion of her life applying what she read in the scriptures by serving others. She was honored with her role of leading and serving her team making furniture at Bernhardt Furniture for 20 plus years until her retirement. Mary loved the local church and throughout her life she served the church faithfully in many different roles. For many years until God took her home, she was a faithful member at Kings Creek  Baptist Church. Mary labored for years over a garden that produced enough food to feed a village. She would do the hard work of canning vegetables to then give them away to help others.

Later in life when mobility became an issue, Mary handmade hundreds of potholders to give to others. Lastly and most importantly, her joy came from serving her family. She loved the role God gave her to serve her family so faithfully through the years as a wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Mary was a true depiction of what it meant to be the hands and feet of Jesus because she always put the needs of others before herself.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Travis Johnson; her late husband, Jimmie Rose; brothers, Gerald Lackey; Dolan Lackey; son in law, Richard Cole and granddaughter, Kim Whitener. Mary is survived by her son, Tony Johnson and wife, Linda; daughter, Betty Johnson Cole; sister, Ann Lackey Hatton; grandchildren, Mary Louise Johnson; Adam Hatton and wife, Jessica; John Strum and wife, Chanla; Candi Terry and husband, Stephen; Travis Cole and wife, Kaitlyn; 13 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and other family members.

A celebration of Mary’s life will be held at Kings Creek Baptist Church on Thursday, August 22, 2024, at 12:00 PM with Pastor Randy Goode, Pastor Tony Johnson, Pastor Adam Hatton and Pastor Travis Cole officiating. The family will receive friends from 11:00 until 12:00 prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to Kings Creek Baptist Church, 4698 Kings Creek Church Road, Lenoir, NC 28645.

Online condolences may be sent to www.evansfuneralservice.com

Evans Funeral Service is honored to serve the family of Mary Rose.