Mary C. Bolin

BOLIN Mary Catherine "Katie" Chandler, 91, peacefully completed her earthly journey on Sunday morning, 19 March 2017. The widow of Ralph Bradshaw Bolin, she was the daughter of Joseph Sweet Chandler and Ruby Lee Tapp Chandler. She was predeceased by her brothers, A.B. Chandler and Joseph Sweet Chandler, Jr., and is survived by Mary Chandler Bolin (E.L. "Whit" Whitaker) and Nancy Catherine Bolin (Gary) Watkins of Lexington; beloved grandson, Benjamin Clay Watkins of Norman, OK; and niece, Jo Jean Chandler Keller of Lisbon Falls, ME. She is survived also by her "adopted" children Felisa Lucero and Alicia Helm (Everett) McCorvey of Lexington, and Karl Michael Watson (Alberto Garcia) of New York City. Raised in Corydon, KY and graduated from St. Vincent Academy, in 1949 she earned History and Political Science degrees from Transylvania College (now University) after an interruption in her studies to serve as a WWII civilian employee in Washington, DC, and in San Francisco. In April 2007, she was awarded the Morrison Medallion, Transy's highest honor to alumni. While studying at Transy, she was initiated into the Delta Theta chapter of Phi Mu and was a paid staff singer at Christ Church. That began her long and rich involvement in the Episcopal community of faith, which included a 50-year membership at the Church of the Good Shepherd where she added her sweet alto voice to the choir and served for more than a decade as the volunteer Day School treasurer. Her career included work at major brokerage firms, retiring from Merrill Lynch after more than 30 years. Her voice was familiar to many Bluegrass radio listeners, as she provided broadcast stock updates for many years. She found great joy in nature and was often seen gardening, and delivering cut flowers to friends and to church. She will be most remembered for her unbounded generosity of spirit, ready smile, and unwavering positive attitude. She was recognized as one of Lexington's "most beautiful people" and featured in the September 2002 Kentucky Monthly magazine. The family extends appreciation to the many kind and caring neighbors who regarded her as the "spirit of Bell Court"; to her new circle of friends and caregivers at Lexington Country Place; and to the outstanding medical staff at St. Joseph Hospital and Hospice, who eased the final chapter of her grace-filled life journey. Friends are invited to share memories with the family at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 533 East Main Street, beginning at 12:30pm on Saturday, 13 May 2017. The gathering is most easily accessed via several steps or the white-brick ramp on the Bell Court side of the church. At 2pm, all are invited to join in the Eucharistic liturgy for burial, which celebrates life and resurrection. In lieu of flowers, the family requests consideration of memorial contributions to: The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd -- http://www.goodshepherdlex.org/; The Cathedral Domain --- http://www.cathedraldomain.org/; The Lexington Singers -- http://lexsing.org/; Hospice - https://www.bgcarenav.org. "In Christ there is no East or West . . . but one great fellowship of love . . ." www.milwardfuneral.com