Mary Ann Kirk

“Mary Ann Kirk” was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on May 25, 1929, at the beginning of the Great Depression, first of the four children of Eula Mae and Frederick W. Bowen. She outlived her three younger siblings whom she loved dearly; sisters Jane Yingling Bowen, Polly Bowen and brother John Thomas Bowen. Mary Ann passed away on June 15, 2026 of heart failure at the age of 97 surrounded by the love of family and a devoted staff of caregivers. Her beloved husband, William “Bill” Kirk passed away eight years ago.

She is survived by two children, son Dr. William “Rik” Kirk III and daughter Pamela Kirk Murray, five grandchildren, Christopher Russel Murray, Gregory Kirk Murray, Katherine Elizabeth Murray, Dylan Tavis Kirk, Elsa Laure Kirk, and five great grandsons, William Steven Berman, Samuel Jonathan Berman, Evan Nicholas Berry-Murray, Luca Aiden Berry-Murray and Alexander Olsen-Berry-Murray.

She raised her family on the East Coast and moved with husband Bill to Colorado in 2005. She excelled in a variety of her roles as a cherished wife, mother, community builder and a “true citizen of the world.” Her proudest accomplishments included being honored as the State of Maryland’s “Mother of the Year” in 1997,” serving as a lay Eucharist reader at the Washington National Cathedral, and spearheading passage of the nation’s first commission established by the Maryland General Assembly to promote the teaching of citizenship education in our public schools. Her book “The Maryland Experience” serves as a legislative blueprint for other states.

It is fitting she passed in what is now the 250th anniversary of the signing of America’s Declaration of Independence. She was the driving force behind a Bicentennial project in 1976 directing reproduction of “The Federalist ship,” an actual ship built and presented to General George Washington in Mount Vernon by the people of Maryland marking Maryland’s decision to become the 7th colony to sign the Declaration of Independence.

A celebration of her life will take place with an inurement of her ashes and a memorial service and in The Chapel of Our Savior in Colorado Springs later this summer. The specific date and time TBA.