Marie Anne Mowell

CAIRO, Ill. -- Marie Anne Mowell, 97, of Cairo died Monday, Sept. 30, 2013, in Cape Girardeau.

She was born July 26, 1916, in Chippewa Falls, Wis., to Ludger J. and Marie Caron Vaudreuil. She and Richard F. Mowell were married Nov. 6, 1941, in St. Louis. They were married 59 years when Richard passed away Feb. 25, 2001, at his home.

Marie Anne graduated from Mount Mary College in Milwaukee in 1938, with a bachelor of science degree in dietetics. Following her graduation, she spent a one year internship in diet therapy at Watts and Duke Hospitals in Durham, N.C. Marie Anne came to Cairo in 1940 to open the first dietary department in St. Mary's Hospital, where she instructed student nurses in subjects related to nutrition.

She was an administrative dietitian until 1942, when she joined her husband in Cheyenne, Wyo., where he was serving in the armed forces. When the U.S. Army reassigned Richard to Trinidad, South Africa, Marie Anne moved back to Cairo. Later, she received a teaching certificate after attending summer school at Southeast Missouri State University.

In 1964 she began teaching a class in family living at the Adult School in Cairo, instructing students in clothing and sewing projects. She also taught at the Senior Citizens Nutrition Center. She retired from teaching in 1970.

Many were not aware that Marie Anne had obtained her pilot's license in 1952. Her "solo" flight was to Mt. Vernon, Ill. She and Richard flew to various country clubs to meet up with friends for a round of golf and dinner together. She and Richard were members of Egyptian Country Club in Mounds, Ill. Marie Anne loved to play golf and as a "Class A" golfer she won many trophies along the way. Marie Anne played golf until 2009 at the age of 93, when she lost her balance while playing golf and subsequently rolled down the hill head over heels, on the eighth hole of the Egyptian Country Club golf course prompting her to "put her clubs away for good."

She was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and was active as an Altar Guild member. Another passion of Marie Anne's was her love for playing cards, which included bridge, pinochle, and gin rummy. She belonged to the Two Tables Club in Cairo for many years and also was a substitute for many other card groups in the area.

Marie Anne is survived by nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by siblings, Fred Vaudreuil, Lionel Vaudreuil, Irene Vaudreuil Leary, Sister Mary Felice Vaudreuil, Roland Vaudreuil, Gladys Vaudreuil Bramblett, Isabel Vaudreuil Ihle, Elmire Vaudreuil Stusek and William Vaudreuil.

Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Patrick's Church.

A memorial Mass will follow. Interment and graveside services will be conducted at 11:30 a.m. Monday at Mound City National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Egyptian Country Club Ladies Golf Association in Mounds or Cairo Public Library.

Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo is in charge of arrangements.