Mary E. Mowry

MOWRY, MARY E. (FALLOWS), 95, of Smithfield, died Sunday, August 3, 2008 at Hebert Nursing Home. She was the wife of the late S. Burton Mowry.

Born in Providence, a daughter of the late Joseph A. and Bessie W. (Young) Fallows. Step mother of Carolyn McWilliams of Topsham, ME. As a resident of Smithfield since 1934, she was a elementary school teacher at the William Winsor School for several years and a elementary school principal in Berlin, CT before retiring in 1976. Mrs. Mowry was a 1934 graduate of Rhode Island College of Education earning her Masters Degree in 1947. She attended Central Connecticut Teachers College in New Britain, CT and New Haven Teachers College.

In 2001 Mary was inducted into the Smithfield Heritage Hall of Fame, where as a member of the Smithfield Historical Society she helped maintain the history of the Smithfield community. She donated the land where the Smithfield Police Station now stands, she paid to move the Primrose train station to the grounds of the Smith- Appleby House and lived in the stone house near the Greenville Library for many years. She had worked to salvage the Mowry houses on the grounds of Bryant University. She generously provided 84 acres of land to the Town of Smithfield through the Smithfield Land Trust, which is now part of the Wolf Hill Preserve. She and her late husband also donated land for the Mowry Conservation area. She was also a member of the Western R.I., Blackstone Valley, Mendon MA, R.I. and League of R.I. Historical Societies; R.I. Genealogical Society; Secretary of the Mowry Family Assoc.; Steere Family Assoc. and Secretary Treasurer of the Smithfield Union Meeting House.

Relatives and friends are invited to a memorial service Saturday August 9, 2008 at 2PM in the Smithfield Union Chapel, Brayton Rd., Smithfield. In lieu of flowers, donations to Friends of Smithfield Cemeteries c/o Smithfield Historical Society, 220 Stillwater Rd., Smithfield, RI 02917 will be appreciated.

Information and guestbook, visit TuckerQuinnFuneralChapel.com.