Mary Catherine Argo

Mary Catherine Donnell Argo, age 90, passed away peacefully on August 27, 2019 at NHC Healthcare, Johnson City, TN. She was born April 27, 1929 in Saint Louis, MO to Eunice and Frank Donnell. She married the love of her life, General Marion Argo, who preceded her in death in 1983. In addition to mourning the loss of her parents and spouse, she lost her eldest son, William Frank Argo in 2015 and her only brother, William Frank Donnell, who was killed in action during WWII.
Mary is survived by her daughter, Jan Yates and spouse, Keith; Robert Argo and wife, Janice; and daughter-in -law, Judy Fowler Argo (wife of William Argo). She delighted in loving her grandchildren, Erin Evans, Kirstie (Chris) Brown and Abby Argo and great-granddaughter, Mary Emma Evans.
Mary spent most of her life in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and loved to share many stories about the “Secret City” and her family’s efforts during the war. She was an avid historian and had many clippings about Oak Ridge’s contributions to the war as well as maintaining ancestry information on family history and special scrapbooks of her children’s adventures and careers. She was an ardent card player and delighted in teaching all her children, grandchildren and friends how to play her favorite card game, Shanghi. She loved jigsaw puzzles and you would often find a table full of pieces ready for anyone to stop by and add a piece. Mary was very active in ballroom dancing as well as square dancing. Mary loved cats and always shared her love with one or two cats her whole life.
Please join the family celebrating her life with a graveside service on Thursday, August 29, 2019 at Oak Ridge Memorial Park, 1501 Bethel Valley Rd, Oak Ridge, TN · (865) 483-6346 at 2:00 pm. Family and friends may gather after 1:00 pm at the chapel.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a local animal shelter or to the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center Voluntary Service (PO Box 4000, Mountain Home, TN 37684) in memory of her brother who died during the war.