from Northwood University |
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Mary Kay Ash, the founder of beauty products empire Mary Kay Cosmetics and a pioneer of women in business, died on Thursday at her home in Dallas.
Mary Kay Inc., for which Ash had served as chairman emeritus since 1987, said she died of natural causes. The company did not specify her age.
``The world has lost one of its greatest champions of women and one of the most loving and inspirational business leaders,'' said Richard Rogers, Mary Kay's son and co-founder of the company who is chairman and chief executive.
In 1963, Mary Kay launched her company in Dallas, investing her life savings of $5,000, and turned it into a direct selling powerhouse. Mary Kay Inc. now annually generates more than $2.4 billion in sales at the retail level and has a sales force of more than 850,000 women that spans 37 countries.
Mary Kay, as she preferred to be called, once said she started her business to help women gain financial independence, career advancement and personal fulfillment.
``I wasn't that interested in the dollars-and-cents part of the business,'' she said. ``My interest in starting Mary Kay Inc. was to offer women opportunities that didn't exist anywhere else.''
Mary Kay was born in Hot Wells, Texas, a small town near Houston. She is survived by her two sons, Richard and Ben. Her daughter Marylyn and husband Mel Ash had both passed away.
She leaves behind 16 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild
