Obituary

Services will be private

Mary Lucille (Phillips, Gross) Garner

Mary Lou Garner, 93, Blue Springs, MO, passed away peacefully August 19, 2020. There will be a private graveside memorial held at Floral Hills Cemetery in Lee’s Summit on Wednesday, August 26th. The family suggests contributions to be made to Lee’s Summit Social Services using their website www.lssocialservices.com. During this time of need by many, this seemed to us to fulfill a need of the community that she loved! The family will not know of your contribution if you do it online, but know that it will be greatly appreciated.

Mary Lou was born in Independence, MO, on September 22, 1926, to Everette Isaac and Beulah Margerete (Lewis) Phillips. She graduated from Northeast High School, Kansas City, MO, in 1943. She worked outside the home at Unity (Village) in Lee’s Summit, the Gas Service Company in Lee’s Summit, Farmers Bank in Lee’s Summit, Safety Federal Savings and Loan in Kansas City, and finally at North American Savings Bank in Grandview and then as branch manager in Lee’s Summit. She retired as Assistant Vice President in October, 1984, at North American Savings Bank, reaching a pinnacle that she never imagined as a young woman back in the 40’s. Throughout her career she was respected and loved by those she worked closely with.

Mary Lou was always on the move, literally, moving from house to duplex, to duplex, to John Knox (two different apartments) …. to living in two different apartments in Dogwood Springs before finally moving to Waterford Ladies’ Home (an assisted living facility) in 2013. She soon became their primary ‘sales’ spokesperson, whenever needed, able to tell prospective residents all of the good things about Waterford. She did this until the dementia that plagued the last several years of her life made it too difficult to handle. Her tastes in the best meal available changed during this time period as well, from lobster and steak as a young woman to McDonald’s cheeseburger and fries with a dessert of Snickers always on hand.

She is survived by two daughters, Karen Kunz and husband Dale, Lee’s Summit, MO, and Connie Payne and fiancé Mike Harp, Oak Grove, MO, two grandsons, Kevin Crawford and wife Crystal, and their two sons Connor and Kason, Lee’s Summit, MO, and Justin Crawford, Lee’s Summit, MO.

Condolences can be sent to the family thru the Langsford Funeral Home website, www.langsfordfuneralhome.com