Mary Kay Happe

2.2.53 - 7.29.24

Mary Kathryn "Mary Kay" Happe of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, died peacefully in her home on July 29th, 2024, after a long battle with breast cancer. She is preceded in death by her parents, Jean Donnell Hawkins and Howell "Hal" Woodbridge Hawkins, and sister, Sandra "Sandy" Marie Hawkins.

She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Bruce Edward Happe; children, Kristin Ann Happe and Catherine Happe Branstetter (Austin); grandchildren, Charlie and Lily Branstetter; and her cousin, Charles Earl Hawkins III (Marti).

Mary Kay was born and raised in Springfield, Missouri, where she attended Greenwood Laboratory School (K-12). She grew up walking to school with friends and spending afternoons at her grandmother's house. She went on to Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1975. During her time at SMU, she pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and studied abroad for a year in Madrid, Spain.

After college, Mary Kay stayed in Dallas and became a flight attendant with Braniff International Airways, where she met Captain Bruce Happe, a pilot on one of her flights. Bruce kept going all the way to the back galley to "ask for orange juice" from the beautiful 5'10" blonde stewardess. Shortly after, he asked her on a date, and after a brief stint of long-distance dating, they married in 1981 in Alexandria, Virginia, and settled in Arlington, Virginia.

She lost her father, an architect and POW in World War II, a few months before her wedding day, but soon thereafter had the joy of welcoming Kristin, lovingly deemed "Peanut". She then lost her mother at age 60 and sister at age 38, both to breast cancer, before giving birth to Catherine, her "Critter".

From ballet recitals, dance team competitions, piano and flute lessons, and church musicals to soccer and basketball practices and swim meets, Mary Kay ensured that her girls were given every opportunity to find their passions in life. She encouraged every extracurricular activity and supported anything that made them happy. She was an integral part of the community, volunteering as a girl scout troop leader and on the PTA, as well as with the Arlington Women's Civic Alliance and Bellevue Forest Garden Club. She always emphasized the importance of education, independence, the arts and humanities, and compassion for others. Above all else, she had a strong faith in God and instilled this in her family.

Mary Kay loved the arts and design, and was proud to have earned a second degree in interior design at Mount Vernon while pregnant and also working. She was especially gifted at hand drafting and had an eye for color. If there was anyone that knew every single Benjamin Moore paint color by heart, it was Mary Kay. She worked for an architecture/space planning firm, Environetics and then interior designer Antony Childs. She spent the majority of her career working for DeFord-Sharpe, an interior design firm based out of Georgetown, D.C.. After her daughters were grown, one of her greatest joys was volunteering at the National Gallery of Art, surrounded by a collection of the world's greatest paintings.

After 35 years living in northern Arlington, Virginia, Mary Kay and Bruce retired in the Charleston, SC area in Mount Pleasant in 2016, the same year Catherine and Austin married there. She loved the historic architecture and charm of the city and living in the beautiful, peaceful lowcountry. She loved taking the boat out with family and friends, weeks at the beach in Kiawah, riding in the golf cart while Bruce played golf, spending time with neighbors, and scouring antiques and design shops. She enjoyed the beautiful surroundings, usually with her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Pippa nearby. Most of all she loved spending time as "Gammy" to her grandchildren in both South Carolina and their home of Nashville.

Mary Kay ("MK") was known by friends for her kind and gentle soul, wit and sense of humor, genuine care for and interest in others, creativity, selflessness, knowing how to have a good time or a long chat with a neighbor, and deep love for and devotion to her family. She was always a Midwestern girl at heart. She is the definition of a survivor and we know she is at peace, free of pain, and in her eternal home finally reunited with her parents and sister.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to her friends, doctors and nurses at MUSC, and home health visiting teams who have walked alongside our family and provided unwavering support during this long battle.

Mary Kay's interment and memorial service will be held in Nashville, TN, where her legacy and spirit will live on in her grandchildren. A visitation with the family will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church on Friday, August 16th, 2024, at 1 pm followed by the service at 2 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research Foundation or the National Gallery of Art.