Mary Nell Kilgore Cowart, 93, of Pensacola, FL, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.

Mary Nell was born on October 22, 1931, in Bessemer, AL. She was the oldest of two siblings living just a few blocks from the town's business district. Her father owned a clothing business, and her mother was a teacher in nearby Hueytown. After graduating from Bessemer High School in 1949 she went on to attend Howard College (now Samford University) where she was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority. She received her bachelor's degree from Howard in 1953 with Bobby Bowden who later became the legendary football coach at Florida State University. She later received her master's degree from the University of Alabama.

After teaching elementary school in the Birmingham area, she moved to Pensacola to accept a teaching position at Pensacola High School where she taught from 1955-1960. Many of her students ended up being the parents of her children's schoolmates and friends.

In 1960 she moved to Jacksonville, FL to take a position with the Social Security Administration. It was there she met William "Bill" Cowart and the two were married on September 10, 1961. They moved to Pensacola in 1965 where she lived the remaining 60 years of her life.

Mary Nell was very loving, encouraging, kind, and she had a wonderful sense of humor. She had a calming sweet presence and was a joy to sit with and have wonderful conversation. She was very intelligent and always knowledgeable about a number of interesting topics. She loved to read her Bible as well as many other books. She was an excellent seamstress and would be found sewing dresses for her daughters on many nights and weekends, as well as baking delicious homemade meals. She enjoyed being part of a bridge club and was quite a good player! She was an amazing listener and had a way of understanding people on a deeper level. She seemed to always have the right words to say to encourage, inspire, and be of help. Her adult children will miss her dearly and she will always be in their hearts.

She is preceded in death by her husband, William K. Cowart, Jr., her parents, E. C. Kilgore, Sr. and Nellie Rich Kilgore, her brother, E. C. (Buddy) Kilgore, Jr., and her nephew Mark Kilgore, Sr.

Survivors include her three children and their spouses, Susan Brown (Wally), William K. Cowart III (Lynda), and Lisa Bodenheimer (Marc); five grandchildren, Audrey Brown, Katherine Cowart, Luke Cowart, Bryson Bodenheimer, and Brooke Bodenheimer; her sisters-in-law, Doris Kilgore and Miriam Jackson; as well as her nieces and nephews.

A private graveside service will be held on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at Bayview Memorial Park with the Reverend Jim Stickle officiating.