Mary Ruth Day Jarrell, 89, of Owensboro, Kentucky passed away peacefully from this world to step joyfully into Heaven on May 27th, 2025. Mary was born on July 23, 1935 in Estill, Kentucky. Mary loved time with her family was often heard to say to them, “We’ve had a wonderful life.” She found a bright spot in every situation, and believed in making up your mind to make the best out of every day. Mary was raised in the Baptist faith and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior at the age of 23. She was a member of Eaton Memorial Baptist Church here in Owensboro. Mary loved to sing hymns, and as a teenager she and two of her sisters often sang in church together. Throughout her life, Mary was a person who made connections with the people around her, and found joy in being a friend to so many. Mary was gifted in hospitality and giving. Although she loved being a homemaker and taking care of her family she did also work outside her home in varied positions; pharmacy tech, manager of a ladies clothing store, and as a secretary at Olan Mills Photography Studios in Evansville, Indiana. Before moving to Owensboro, Mary and her husband, Fred, were longtime residents of Evansville Indiana and cherished their church family there at North Park Baptist Church.
Mary’s memory will be held dear by those that she leaves behind: a daughter, Elizabeth (Dennis) McFadden; two grandsons, Jeremy (Emily) McFadden, and Ben (Paige) McFadden; four great-grandchildren Maddox, Kate, Clark, and Luke; one sister-in-law Dorothy Day; many precious nieces and nephews, and so many friends that she made along the way. This includes the many new friends she made in her last years living at Heartland Villa Nursing Center. She was part of a great community there and it was a joy to her.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Fred Jarrell; her parents, William and Amma Sue Day; her siblings Dottie Lackey (Carson), Olive Bonanno (Andy), Billy Day, Betty Levine (Herb), Carl Day Sr., and Peggy Lafferty (Ollie).
Funeral Services will be at 12:00 p.m. on Monday, June 9, 2025 at James H. Davis Funeral Home and Crematory in Owensboro, KY officiated by two of her pastors, Dr. Dennis McFadden and Dr. Art Christmas. Burial will follow at Rosehill Cemetery. Visitation is from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm on June 9th at the funeral home.
The family wants to extend special thanks to all of the staff at Heartland Villa Nursing Center who lovingly cared for Mary during her time there and to Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Kentucky.