Lovely to the last, in every way!  That is to say, as beautiful and remarkable in spirit and soul as in her wonderful looks, holding herself with a grace and elegance that reflected her true nature.  Warmth, fun and generosity of spirit were central to her nature.
That’s how Mary’s good friend Rosie described her.
 
Born in Epsom on the 24th of July 1936 to Freda and Norman Prideaux, Mary grew up in a loving household with her two younger sisters, Jane and Jill. After the war, they all settled into what was to become a bustling, lively, family home in Hampshire filled with grandparents, friends, dogs, cats, geese, heifers and chickens and most importantly, with love and laughter.
 
These early experiences were to shape the woman Mary would become - always open and welcoming to all, young or old, human or animal. To give you an example, Michael, a dear friend of Amanda’s wrote, I guess my abiding memory of Mary is of how welcoming and gracious she always was when we came to her house as noisy, energetic 18-year-olds. She seemingly always had endless patience and forbearance with Amanda’s opinionated and passionate friends and always made us feel a welcome part of the magic of Ambelor. 
And who else would be so hospitable to the local farm dog, a greyhound called Rosie, who would call round every day for a cuddle with Mary and then leap onto her bed for an hour-long siesta?
 
She was always there to offer a cup of tea or whisky, and a shoulder to cry on as she had a most generous heart. Ever accommodating, Mary always made room for one more, for delicious meals at her round table. And when that got too tight, a large, oval, piece of chipboard would be pulled-out, covered with a tablecloth, and placed on top. The table was privy to discussions, funny stories, in depth conversations and confidences. Those who knew Mary will remember her wonderful sense of humour. With a twinkle in her eye, she had the enviable habit of seeing the funny side of even the most difficult situation and the ability to remain optimistic regardless of the circumstances.
 
Her favourite expression was ‘find a way, make a way’. She could make something from nothing, whether an impromptu meal or a beautiful and cosy room in her house. She often saw beauty where others didn't, and she had a gift for showing them the world through her eyes.
 
Mary's wide interests and her zest for life were a major influence on her three daughters. With Amanda, Mary shared her love of the arts. As a child, Amanda would spend hours next to her mum, painting and creating. Belinda joined Mary in her love of nature, the care of animals, and her passion for reading. Many of you will know that later in life Mary spent a lot of time in France and gifted her youngest, Eleanor, with an immersion in French culture which has been responsible for her passion for food and language.
 
One thing Mary did not excel at was an aptitude for sport. Her uncle Theo would regularly attend Mary's sports days when she was at school. This was not in the hope that she would romp to victory in the sprint race, but because he knew that while she would come in last, she would do so with a wide smile across her face. Almost everything she did, she did with great energy and humility.
 
On leaving school, Mary decided she would like to pursue a career in the arts. However she was discouraged from studying art at college because teaching, nursing, or secretarial work were deemed to be more suitable professions. As we know, though, Mary would always find a way, make a way and so she enrolled on a teacher training course at Goldsmiths College, which also just happened to have an excellent art department. She took full advantage of her new environment - and so began her education in art.
 
After qualifying as a teacher, Mary worked in a boys’ school in Epsom where she taught students with many challenges and problems. She was so respected and liked there, and she helped so many, that a few of the boys kept in touch with her for the duration of her life. 
 
While working in schools in Scotland and Epsom, Mary continued to study art through adult education classes, where she improved her technique, met other artists and inevitably made good friends. She started to hold exhibitions which became increasingly successful as her work became stronger, more confident, more colourful. She later exhibited in prestigious galleries in London and had the distinguished honour of having a painting accepted by the Royal Academy. With her exhibitions she often raised money for charities such as the Prisoners Education Trust and St Michael’s Hospice.
 
Mary started her own very successful art school in Cobham, Surrey, where she would share her skill and knowledge with many aspiring artists. But as was so typical of her, she often said she learned as much from her students as they did from her.
 
Mary spent a lot of time in France and, after one particularly successful exhibition, was able to buy a house in Vétheuil, a stone’s throw from Monet’s Giverny.
 
Over the years, Mary welcomed students to her ‘home from home’ in France, and many of them became lifelong friends. As was her way, she created a beautiful environment from very little, and many people still reminisce about the laughter, barbeques and lively conversation they had there. She had exhibitions in Vétheuil and the surrounding area and ‘l’artiste anglaise’ became something of a local celebrity, known for her sense of fun as well as for her considerable talent.
 
Inspired by her surroundings, Mary's work continued to evolve as she experimented with bolder colours, ventured into mixed-media and even started to write poetry. She has left behind a beautiful body of work which is scattered all over the world. Her many inspirational demonstrations led to a BBC TV programme in which she showed us how she painted the Watercress Line in Hampshire. A dear friend of Mary's in Vétheuil, Thierry Gardie, wrote a book about her life and work, which was published in 2006.
 
Mary was married twice. Firstly, to David Pappin and later to Robin Towsey, two men with whom she remained good friends even after their marriages had ended. And despite all of her amazing accomplishments, Mary always said that her proudest achievement was her three daughters, Amanda, Belinda and Eleanor. As children they had to share her, but they never felt that they had lost out because there was so much of her. She gave them security, enough space to explore the world, and all of them have a love of the arts. She always created opportunities for them to flourish - even where they lacked confidence - and gave them things to help improve their lives.
 
In the late 1970s, Mary and Robin bought a tumbledown cottage in Hampshire with a garden full of nettles, no running water, and scary electrics. Mary threw her usual energy, positivity and creativity at the project - she found a way and made a way - to make a beautiful home.
 
She named it Ambelor after her daughters, Amanda Belinda and Eleanor. Here, like her parents before her, she welcomed various friends young and old, and found room for all  - including dogs, cats, chickens, geese, ducks, rabbits, guineapigs and hamsters.
 
Ambelor was just one example of a series of beautiful homes that Mary created with very little money, and gardens that reflected her warmth, fluidity, vitality and colour. Many of her homes were captured in her, and her students’, paintings over the years.
 
Later, she took great joy in her grandchildren, Joe, Alex, Mathilda and Amelie with whom she shared her mischievous side - telling them naughty jokes, playing silly games and stealing sweeties from the sweetie tin. And it's for good reason that her adoring grandchildren remember her as ‘naughty granny’.
 
When she finally retired from teaching and moved to a smaller house, Mary continued to paint, having made a small studio in her attic, and she continued to socialize with her many friends. But still being full of energy and wanting to do more, she started going to a Pilates class for the more mature woman. There she met a lovely group of women with whom she spent most of her time laughing.  Their teacher, Helen, found it very amusing that after working hard at their Pilates they would then undo all the good work by indulging in large milky coffees and buns at a local café! 
 
She also started playing bridge, loved sudoku, crosswords, jigsaw puzzles and many other brainteasers, and was probably the last ever viewer of the soap opera ‘Neighbours’, which she watched and continued to watch, right up until its last ever episode.
 
She was a great reader of books and poetry and particularly loved Somerset Maugham, to whom she would return to again and again.
 
In her quiet moments, Mary would enjoy sitting in her conservatory, drinking coffee while watching the birds feast from the bird table. But most of us will remember Mary as an active person, filled with energy. She was still doing two of the things she loved the most, gardening and painting, until late last year.
 
Mary was a tour de force who had a huge appetite for life and made a lasting impression on everyone who knew her - family, friends, students, and all those with whom she came into contact. She was a people person, as so clearly demonstrated by the overwhelming number of tributes Amanda, Belinda and Eleanor have received since her passing.
 
Exceptional, generous of spirit, joyful, playful, dazzling, strong, vibrant, kind, elegant, funky, quirky and lovely are just some of the words used to describe her. Mary was all of these things and much, much more. As her dear friend Cavan said when he was told of her passing, Mary Towsey was a gift to us. She will be missed more than she could ever have imagined.
 
Mary Towsey – you were magnificent.