Mary Kathleen Bratcher was born to Kathleen and Jim Bratcher in Bradenton, FL but mostly grew up in Brooklyn, New York along with her sisters, Barbara and Dorothy.  She moved back to Florida and went on attend the Gordon Keller School of Nursing in Tampa from which she graduated in 1958.  Afterwards, she enlisted in the US Air Force and was stationed in Alaska for 2 years where she enjoyed time in a very different part of our great country!  She always spoke fondly of her road trip back to the Lower 48 with some friends seeing the beautiful Northern Pacific coast, going through Las Vegas and landing in Chicago.  It was there that she met the love of her life, Russ Bardin. They were married and lived happily ever after for 54 years mostly in Kennesaw, GA.  They began a family and had two children, Rusty and Kathy.  From there, they welcomed a daughter-in-law, Michele Masurski  and son-in-law, Don Lucas to the family.  4 grandchildren soon followed: Paula, Joey, Ashley and Lizzie.  Through another beautiful wedding Paula married Phillip Murray and they have been blessed with 3 children: Nora, Teddy and Frankie.  Mary was very much looking forward to the upcoming wedding of Ashley Bardin to Brandon Engle just 3 months from now.

While her family was her highest priority, Mary enjoyed a long career.  She was an OR Nurse at Kennestone Hospital while continuing her education at Georgia State University and the University of Georgia where she earned advanced degrees in Education and Medical Education.  She was a professor of OB Nursing at Georgia Baptist Hospital for 15 years and then went to Kennesaw State University in 1993 to help establish their School of Nursing.

She enjoyed all their friends through the military, but the tight group they made from the Navy Rec Center on Lake Allatoona, was like a second family.  In the summer, if they weren't enjoying the backyard pool, they were at the lake on their boat!  It was there that Mary was talked into joining the YMCA Kickers club with her friends.  From age 60-85, Mary practiced Rockette style dances 3 times a week and performed almost 200 "gigs" all around Cobb County.

In her spare time, Mary would head off with Russ to explore the world for weeks and months at a clip via Space A military travel.  They saw a countless number of countries all over the globe and enjoyed each one of their unique cultures.

And some way, she still found the time to read thousands of books.  Her thirst for knowledge was insatiable!  She had a close and personal 50 year relationship with the librarians at Gritters Library, probably her all-time favorite building.  After retirement she even continued to take Adult Education classes from Elderly Law to French to Flower arranging.

Mary passed away with her hands being held by her children and surrounded with grandchildren.  It was a beautiful send off for a beautiful woman who led a beautiful, well-lived life.  She touched and taught so many people and she will be missed dearly by not just her large family but her community at large. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to: wwww.donatelifegeorgia.org (Life Link of Georgia).