Mary Elizabeth “Liz” Atherton, 88, of Louisville, KY, passed peacefully from this life, with family present, on February 15, 2025, at Belmont Village Senior Living in Louisville, KY. Born September 23, 1936, she was daughter to the late Hugh Paxton and Mary Agnes (Gilles) Atherton of Owensboro, KY, and only sibling to the late Sarah Ann (Atherton) Wolford of Liberty, KY.
Liz obtained a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Brescia College before enjoying a stimulating career with IBM as a computer sales analyst in the 60’s and 70’s. Following a leave of absence from the workforce to obtain a Masters of Divinity at Catholic Theological Union, Liz enjoyed a second career as a research associate within the University of Louisville nursing department before retiring.
Liz was deeply spiritual. She was raised in a Catholic home, attending Mass weekly and becoming a catechist while at IBM. She read extensively throughout her life from a variety of sources and valued “decent, cordial human interactions”. She preferred a quiet, ordered, balanced life punctuated with opportunities to entertain and share holidays and outings with dear ones. Friends and family alike held Liz in great esteem, knowing her as a truly authentic person and a source of spiritual insight and sound guidance.
For Liz, her “special achievements” in life were the relationships. She greatly treasured the close bonds with her loving parents and dear sister, her extended family to whom she was well beloved, and her two special groups of friends with whom she had genuine connections and shared much of her later life in Louisville.
Survivors include her nieces, Debra Ann Wolford (and Tom) Head of Goodlettsville, TN, Mary Paxton (‘Packie’) Wolford (and Mark) Bogard of Church Hill, TN; nephews, Joseph Coy (and Liz) Wolford of Versailles, KY, James Gregory (and Lisa) Wolford of Lancaster, KY, Ellen Wolford, wife of late nephew, Mike; 17 great nieces and nephews; 21 great, great nieces and nephews; and numerous cousins and friends. In addition to her parents and sister, Liz was preceded in death by her brother-in-law, Dale Keith Wolford, and nephew, Michael Keith Wolford.
The first visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, February 20, at Arch L. Heady & Son Funeral Home, 7410 Westport Road, Louisville, KY. A second visitation will be held Saturday, February 22, from 9-11 a.m. at Haley-McGinnis Funeral Home, 519 Locust Street, Owensboro, KY. A funeral Mass at St. Stephen Cathedral, 610 Locust Street, in Owensboro, will be at noon, with burial to follow at Rosehill-Elmwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be nephews and great nephews. In lieu of flowers/gifts, memorial contributions may be made to Brescia University in Owensboro, KY, or Family Scholar House in Louisville, KY.