The Fourth of July was one of Julie Rout's favorite holidays.

She and her husband, Ellicott City residents, made it a point to attend nearby Catonsville's annual parade each year.

The couple was part of a group that designed a float for Patapsco Valley State Park that won the grand marshal's prize one year. During the parade, if they weren't marching, they would sit side-by-side on chairs along the route. If she heard a catchy tune, she'd be the first to jump up and start dancing curbside.

“She was a die-hard patriot American,” said her husband, Randy Rout.

Julie Rout died March 17 from a stroke caused by side effects from her second battle with cancer. She was 48.

She had been a middle school English teacher and assistant principal in Howard County Public Schools. She taught at Glenwood Middle and was an assistant principal at Folly Quarter, Elkridge Landing and Clarksville middle schools.

Randy Rout said bike riding had been a means of mental release for his wife; she had taken part in numerous local rides organized by the area's active cycling community.

Since her death, he said, he and the couple's two daughters, 21-year-old Becky and 16-year-old Grace, have had tremendous support from those same cyclists, from providing meals to hosting rides.

“It was endless,” he said. “It was unbelievable the help we got from people. It was incredible.”

On Monday, friends and supporters of the Routs will take part in the annual Catonsville Rails to Trails bike ride to Fort McHenry — an event that has been dedicated this year in Julie Rout's memory.

When Randy and Julie married in 1992, they bought mountain bikes and took advantage of the trails near their townhouse. Julie, who had taken part in Iron Girl races and triathlons, quickly embraced road biking, he said.

Before the cancer diagnosis, she would do 50- to 100-mile rides with ease. One of her favorite trails to take with friends was the No. 9 Trolley Trail, a 1.5-mile paved trail from Catonsville to Ellicott City, which she enjoyed for its woodland setting and its accessibility to other trails.

The first diagnosis of stage four ovarian clear cell carcinoma — one of the rarest and least-known forms of ovarian cancer — came in December 2014.

While ovarian cancer accounts for about 3 percent of cancers among women, it causes more deaths than any other cancer of the reproductive system, according to the American Cancer Society.

She was declared to be in remission in June 2015, and whenever she felt good enough to get a bike ride in, she would.

“She was just so driven to keep going and going and going,” her husband said. “Her will was so strong.”

She remained upbeat even when the cancer returned, he said. Over time, though, it spread to her lungs, liver and lymph nodes. The side effects caused her to have a stroke on March 13. She died the following Thursday.

During her active biking periods, Julie Rout had gotten her bike serviced and adjusted by Scott Westcoat, a friend for more than 15 years and owner of C'Ville Bikes/Hub in Catonsville.

It was Westcoat who told Catonsville Rails to Trails member Maureen Sweeney Smith about Julie Rout, and the nonprofit was quickly on board for the idea of dedicating its annual race to her. Westcoat said it was a good way to put a worthy face on the annual event.

“It's just absolutely the right thing to do,” he said. “It was a community effort.”

The ride goes from Catonsville to Fort McHenry via the Gwynns Fall Trail. Bikers are encouraged to wear red, white and blue.

In years past, as many as 150 people have taken part in the ride, according to Sweeney Smith. The nonprofit's goal is to promote hiking and biking in the Catonsville area.

Monday's Fourth of July ride will depart at 7:30 a.m. from C'Ville Bikes/Hub, 821 Frederick Road, Catonsville. The ride is free, though donations are accepted. For details, call 443-326-5474.

The rails to trails group hopes to raise money to buy a bench, a kiosk or sign to dedicate to Julie Rout along the Short Line Railroad Trail, a 2.2-mile trail in the works which will connect Maiden Choice Lane and Mellor Avenue.

“It's just an unbelievable tribute to her,” Randy Rout said. “It just shows the love of the community.”

jbleiweis@baltsun.com