Mary Elizabeth Harrison Stafford
Mary Elizabeth Harrison Stafford, 89, of Marshall, Mo., went to be with her Lord and Savior, surrounded by her loving family, on Thursday, July 21, 2016, at Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall. Mary was born in Dallas County, Mo. on January 17, 1927, the daughter of the late Benjamin R. Harrison and Lona Dalton Harrison. On April 16, 1942, she married Lewey Stafford who preceded her in death on March 19, 1984. This union was blessed with nine girls and three boys. She worked at Banquet Foods in Marshall, retiring after 25 years, and was a faithful member of Gill Memorial Baptist Church. Mary was a very kind, giving, gentle friend, and a loving person who never met a stranger. Her house was always open, and she loved it most when it was full. One seldom left her home without a homemade treasure. Mary is survived by her children: Wanda Stafford of Lee's Summit, Mo., Willa Boehmer of Overland Park, Kan., Wanita Darlene (Ronald) Aulgur of Burbank, Ill., Judy (Gary) Boehmer of Jefferson City, Mo., Joyce Marie (Neil) Leimkuehler of Kansas City, Mo., Kathryn Jean (Ronald) Fann of Marshall, Mo., Mary Jane Stafford of Jefferson City, Mo., Jill Ann Hobbs (Ronn) of Poplar Bluff, Mo., Jeffery Alan Stafford (Becky) of Fulton, Mo., and Wendell Craig Stafford of Marshall, Mo.; 22 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; one sister, Vada Yates of Springfield, Mo.; as well as several nieces, nephews, and cousins. In addition to her parents and husband, Mary was preceded in death by her oldest daughter, Wilma Stafford; and her son, William Mark Stafford; one grandson, Joel Robert Boehmer; one son-in-law, Doug Boehmer; and one brother, Clarence H. Harrison. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, July 25, 2016, at Campbell-Lewis Chapel in Marshall with Pastor David Slusher officiating. Graveside services will be at 3:30 p.m. Monday in Sweaney Riverview Cemetery at Long Lane, Mo. with Pastor Ronald Aulgur officiating. Visitation will be from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Gill Memorial Baptist Church and an online guestbook is available at www.campbell-lewis.com
Published July 22, 2016