Mary Louise Myers, 84, of Atchison, Kan., was surrounded by her husband and children as she passed from her earthly life on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, after a courageous 3-year battle with ovarian cancer.

Mary was born on Dec. 28, 1939, to Francis and Esther Marie (Brown) Willey in Iatan, Mo. She was the second of six children. She graduated from West Platte High School in Weston, Mo. in 1957.

Mary was living in Atchison and working as a waitress at R and E Café when she met Roy Myers, Jr. at the Cottonwood Inn dance hall. They were married at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Weston on July 28, 1962. They lived in the Atchison area for the entirety of their 61-year marriage. Mary was a devoted and loyal wife. Mary and Roy were blessed with four children, eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Mary was a warm, caring and supportive mother and a great cook. Some of her children- favorite meals were fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy, homemade yeast rolls with homemade butter, and all the pies: custard, chocolate and pear were among their favorites. When Mary saw her children and grandchildren, she greeted them by reaching out her arms and coming for a big hug. Those hugs will be forever remembered and sorely missed.

Mary- grandchildren were the joy of her life. She would whoop and holler at Dalton- basketball games, Savannah- gymnastics meets, Brooklynn- dance recitals, Jeremy- car races and Morgan- softball games. She loved hearing stories about Heather- classroom, and Taylor was her pride and joy as the one grandson who could carry on the Myers name.

Her beloved granddaughter Morgan was born on her 60th birthday, and she loved celebrating their birthdays together over the years. Mary- birthday was the one occasion of the year when she might drink a peach margarita to celebrate.

Mary loved her church family at St. Louis Catholic Church in the Good Intent area north of Atchison. She was a decades-long member of the Altar Society and held officer positions for several years. She served on the funeral dinner committee and helped clean the church and prepare items for Mass each week. She had also attended the Good Intent Homemaker- Club that met at the church.

Mary enjoyed reading, watching Gunsmoke reruns, eating chocolate, rooting for Travis Kelce and the Chiefs, and riling people up about politics. She was also a proud blood donor. Since 1988, she had donated blood 96 times for a total of 12 gallons in blood donations.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, brother Ronnie Willey, and sisters Patricia Fee and Margaret Green. One of the most painful times of her life was experiencing the death of her infant grandson, Zachery Mauro.

Mary is survived by her loving husband Roy of rural Atchison; son Steve and his wife Kim of Lancaster, Kan.; daughter Cathy Mauro and her husband Jeff of Topeka, Kan.; daughter Debbie Bennett and her husband, Alan of Weston; and daughter Bekki Piper and her husband Brian of Atchison. Her grandchildren and their spouses are Heather and Brad Heerlein of Savannah, Mo.; Taylor and Jennifer Myers of Hill City, Kan., Jeremy Mauro of Manhattan, Kan.; Savannah and Trevor Vanpool of Ft. Wainwright, Alaska; Brooklynn Bennett of Manhattan, Kan.; Dalton and Mikayla Parsons of Atchison; Morgan Parsons of Weston; and bonus grandchildren Austin Piper of Manhattan, Kan., and Ashlyn Piper of Atchison. Her great grandchildren are Emori Dunn, Remington Heerlein, Bowen Myers, Blake Parsons and Blake- and Bowen- younger siblings who are due this summer. One of Mary- last wishes was to meet those two new great grandbabies.

Mary is also survived by sisters Frances Antle of Newton, Kan., and Sue Moppin of Weston; and brothers- and sisters-in-law Helen Green of Tracy, Calif., Bill and Edythe Myers of Everest, Kan.; Dora and Homer McCoole of Atchison; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 22, 2024, at St. Louis Catholic Church with Fr. Hughes Sundeme as Celebrant. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. A rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 21, 2024, at Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home with visitation to follow until 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be directed to the St. Louis Catholic Church. At Mary- request, please do not wear black to the services.

When you think of Mary, may it be a reminder to not complain, be happy with what you have, cling tightly to your faith, and love your family like there- no tomorrow. Consider becoming a blood donor in her honor.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”