Mary R. Kottich's Obituary
Mary Ruth Warner Kottich (Mary K)
22nd of July 1938 to 31st of May 2024. Died in Seminole, FL, USA
Mary Ruth Warner, more famously known as “Mary K”, graduated from U of K with a BA degree in education. Born in Jessamine County, she grew up working along with her sister and brothers on a tobacco farm. Father, Willie Warner, was known for his high quality of burley tobacco, bringing him many years of recognition and awards at the State Fair. Her mother Beulah Barker Warner, was a loving homemaker, shaping a young Mary into the great woman she would become.
Mary K graduated the University of Kentucky and was involved in new student orientations and was passionate about Kentucky basketball. She received her master's degree in child psychology from the University of California, San Francisco.
After two years teaching Elementary School, Mary K accepted a position at Ft. Knox. There in 1962, she met and married the love of her life, husband Colonel Charles Robert Kottich, a career army officer and West Point graduate class of 1956. Together they had daughters Caroline, Jennifer, and Kristen, and 8 grandchildren.
She spent the next 25 years as a military wife, crisscrossing the globe, teaching children of foreign diplomats and businessmen in international schools and raising her family.
After moving from Kansas to Berlin to Venezuela to name a few, the family settled in lovely Seminole, Florida, following Charles' final post at MacDill Air Force Base.
Mary K felt passionately about teaching and then moved into , real estate, with the same drive. As one of the top real estate professionals in Florida, she set the standard by which other realtors in the area are measured. Her innovative, marketing techniques and work ethic, earned her the reputation as one of the fastest home sellers in the state. Many awards and honors followed from Century 21 National and its International network. In fact, she’s the only person ever to be named Florida’s number one Century 21 agent for 15 years, even including 2006 when the depression of real estate sales created great challenges.
Her outstanding work in Real Estate was rewarded by her nomination and entry into Three Real Estate Halls of Fame. They include; Century 21 International Hall of Fame, Mike Ferry Hall of Fame and Tampa Bay Century 21 Hall of Fame.
To her family and friends, Mary K is remembered as a loving mother and grandmother, cancer survivor who would do anything for her family. Passionate in her convictions for her love of country, support of Veterans, her beloved Kentucky Wildcats, unwavering in her support. Known for her glamour and style she always put her husband and family first. She is remembered for her boundless energy and vigorous debates.
She believed her greatest legacy was her loving 56 year marriage to Chuck and her beautiful daughters Caroline Semmler, Jenny Meij and Kristy Williams. She was surrounded with love by her daughters, son in law and grandchildren when she passed peacefully.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation.
https://t2t.org/
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