Mary Nell Lake
Mary Nell Lake, 95, of Chattanooga, passed away on Friday, June 20, 2025.
She was born in Lafayette, Ga., on Oct. 27, 1929, to Grace Bearden Keown and Lon E Keown. The second of four children and the only girl. Mary Nell was named after “that little girl who sang on the radio”.
After the family moved permanently from Lafayette to Chattanooga in the mid- 1940’, she attended Central High School, where she excelled in art. Two of her close friends from high school introduced her to her future husband, Roy E. Lake. It was important to her to receive her high school diploma, so they married not long after she graduated in 1947.
She worked at Miller-Smith Hosiery Mill (where she became a cut-up, participating in practical jokes and writing song parodies, among other things), United Hosiery Mill (later known as Buster Brown). Eventually, she retired from Pro-Group on Tremont Street.
Mary Nell was an avid gardener and accomplished seamstress, making and designing many of her own clothes as well as creating full sized and baby quilts which were received with pleasure. She was also adept at other handcrafts and in her hey-day produced an abundance of felt ornaments, stuffed baby dolls and other items, including a full-sized witch for Halloween and a Santa for Christmas. Another pastime was feeding and watching birds. She derived great enjoyment from the smallest hummingbirds up to the wild turkeys and the occasional escaped peacock that appeared in her yard. Even with all her pursuits, she was ready to welcome any of her daughters’ friends with sweet tea, good food and an open refrigerator door. Mary Nell was also a very proud grandmother and will be sorely missed.
In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband, Roy Lake; son, Michael Gene Lake and her brothers, Lawrence Keown and Vernon Keown; nephews, Brian and Lonnie A Keown and son-in-law, Brian Locke.
Survivors include her daughters, Linda Lake, Rhonda Locke, grandson, Alex Locke, brother, Lonnie Randolph Keown (Sue) and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the outstanding staff and caregivers at both Martin-Boyd Christian Home and Hospice of Chattanooga. From Martin-Boyd’s wonderful nurses and CNA’s who provided round the clock care, to the kitchen staff who worked so diligently with us on diet, to the administrative staff who supported us in too many ways to mention, we couldn’t have asked for more kind, caring, professional people. From Hospice of Chattanooga we had a wonderful nurse who closely managed our mother’s illnesses and treatment and made sure we were always involved in her care. We will always be grateful for these amazing people who took this final journey with our family.
Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 26, at the Chattanooga National Cemetery with Lawrence Keown, Jr. and James Hobby officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Chattanooga, The Humane Educational Society, 41 55 Randolph Circle, Chattanooga, Tn. 37406, or any other animal welfare organization of your choice.
Visit the online obituary www.heritagechattanooga.com to post tributes and share memories.
The family will receive friends from 2-3 p.m. on Wednesday at Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Chapel.