Mary Naquin Rainey

Mary Naquin Rainey

Mary Naquin Rainey passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, June 7, 2014, her eighty-eight birthday.

She was born in Honokaa, Hawaii in 1926, where she spent her childhood. In 1936 her mother returned to Tennessee with her two children, Mary and her brother, Bob. After several moves they settled in Jackson where she met her future husband Irvin Mercer Rainey. They married in 1946 at St Paul's Episcopal Church in Franklin, Tennessee and raised their family in Jackson.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 68 years, Dr. Irvin Mercer Rainey, Sr.; her parents, Emac Eno Naquin and Mary Elizabeth Gardner Naquin; her brother, Robert Gardner Naquin (Jane).

She is survived by her four children, Dr. Mary McCalla (Jon) of Memphis, Dr. Irvin M. Rainey, Jr. (Vicki) of Jackson, Thomas C. Rainey (Jenny) of Ridgecrest, CA, Dr. Robert A. Rainey (Kim) of Jackson and ten grandchildren.

Mrs. Rainey was an active member and officer of several local garden clubs including the Jackson Junior Garden Club, Jackson Garden Club, Jackson Evergreen, and Ikebana Society. The skills she acquired were beneficial to her many years on the St. Luke's Episcopal Church altar Guild. She had been a member of St. Luke's for over seventy years.

When her children were young, she served as den mother for the Cub Scouts as well as leader of troops of Brownie and Girl Scouts of America. She was active in the PTA in multiple schools through the years. Mrs. Rainey served as member and officer of multiple civic organizations. These included the Daughters of the American Revolution, Mutual Improvement Club, and the Seventh District Dental Auxiliary. She belonged to several bridge clubs, the Shakespeare Society, and a canasta club.

Traveling and vegetable gardening were active pastimes she spent with her family and friends. Many happy hours were spent boating and giving fishing lessons on the Tennessee River. She loved years of float trips down the Buffalo River.

The family would like to thank her wonderful caregivers, Howard Stevenson, Kara Baughn, and Zelma Comer, for their loving care for both Irvin and Mary for the past six years.

Family visitation will be at 3 p.m. Monday afternoon at St. Luke's Episcopal Church. Services will begin at 4:30 p.m., at the church.

Memorials may be sent to St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 309 East Baltimore, Jackson, TN 38301.

Lawrence-Sorensen Funeral Home, 731-424-2424.