Mary Kathleen Zimmerman

Mary Kathleen "Kay" (Devlin) Zimmerman, age 98, formerly of Dearborn, Michigan, and Pontotoc, Mississippi, passed away peacefully on April 22, 2025, at Addington Place of Johns Creek in Georgia.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on July 2, 2025, at St. Christopher Catholic Church, 431 Pineridge Drive, Pontotoc, MS 38863. Inurnment will follow at the St. James Catholic Church Columbarium in Tupelo, Mississippi.

Kay was born on October 3, 1926, to Edward and Mary (Kehoe) Devlin. She was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She graduated from St. Agnes High School and worked for a bakery and later for an insurance company before becoming a homemaker. When she married Carl E. Zimmerman, Sr. on July 7, 1951, they bought a house in Dearborn, Michigan where it became a home with four children. Kay was enormously proud of her children, especially their educational achievements. Mary graduated with a B.A. in Economics and Mathematics from Western Michigan University and earned a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Rochester, Carl Jr. graduated with a B.S. in Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies from the United States Air Force Academy and earned an M.A. in International Political Economics from the University of Southern California, John graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Naval Academy, and Jim graduated with a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University, earned his M.D. at The University of Mississippi School of Medicine and is now a radiologist in private practice.

Kay was a proud American. She had red hair and loved her Irish heritage. Every year she celebrated St. Patrick's Day all decked out in green and served corned beef and cabbage. She traveled to Ireland with Carl and later with her best friend Helen Washington and Helen's two sisters as part of a group of women from northeast Mississippi. When Carl retired from Ford Motor Company in 1980, they began a new adventure building a house on a farm in Pontotoc, Mississippi. She had enough of snow and cold! Kay fully supported Carl's political activities both in Dearborn and in Mississippi. When Carl died shortly after their 50th wedding anniversary in 2001, Kay grieved but used this new time in her life to become more active in her community and her parish, St. Christopher Catholic Church. She was a regular at the Pontotoc Senior Citizens Center and was often seen driving around town. When presented with the opportunity to travel, her immediate response was "Let's go!" When Kay could no longer live alone, she lived at Sunshine Health Care, in Pontotoc until her strength improved, then transitioned to Church Street Manor Assisted Living, Inc. in Ecru, MS. At the age of 90 another adventure ensued, she moved to Georgia to be close to her son, Jim, and his family. While in Georgia she lived at Somerby Sandy Springs, The Georgian Lakeside in Roswell, and Addington Place in Johns Creek.

Kay was a member of the Greatest Generation. She devoted her life to her family and friends. She was so proud of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was interested in politics and the world around her, always voted, and loved her Fox News Channel. She was an avid listener of talk radio, especially Rush Limbaugh when he was alive. She loved hockey and was a lifelong fan of the Detroit Red Wings.

Kay is survived by her loving children, Mary Z. Murphy, Ph.D. of Granby, CT; LTC Carl E. (Valerie) Zimmerman, Jr., USAF (Ret) of Georgetown, TX; CAPT John D. Zimmerman, USNR (Ret) of Kailua, HI; and James R. (Kathy) Zimmerman, M.D. of Roswell, GA. She also leaves behind her beloved grandchildren, John F. (Christina) Murphy III, Esq.; Kathleen "Katie" M. Hershon, M.D.; and Richard J. and Audrey V. Zimmerman. Kay was also blessed with three great-grandsons, Jack L. and Oliver C. Hershon; and John F. Murphy IV.

Kay was proceeded in death by her loving husband, Carl E. Zimmerman, Sr.; her parents, Mary and Edward Devlin; her sister, Doris Duston; her brother, John "Jack" Devlin; her daughter-in-law, Nancy Luke Zimmerman; and her son-in-law, Dr. John F. Murphy, Jr.

In Kay's honor friends and family may choose to send flowers for the funeral at St. Christopher Catholic Church or to donate to the charity of their choice in memory of Kay.

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