Mary Jane Woodley 1937-2020

Mary Jane Woodley, 83, passed away Friday, September 4, 2020 at North Kansas City, MO.
She was born February 9, 1937 in Mercer County, Missouri the daughter of Johnathan Archie and Gladys Marie (Hendrex) Henry. Mary was the tenth of eleven children born to this union.
She grew up in Lineville, Iowa and Mercer, Missouri. Her first school house was the Little Red School north of Lineville, next the Lineville town school and then East White School in Mercer County which was consolidated into Mercer town school where she graduated in 1957. She started airline hostess training but lost interest quickly when she found out she was too “short” to be an airline hostess.
Mary met and married Lowell David “L. D.” Woodley on February 21, 1957 in Princeton, Missouri. They moved to Iowa and farmed for a few years and moved back to Mercer after purchasing the family farm.
They made many improvements to the farm and their family when they fostered 3 children from the Ralston family: Curtis, Karen and Kevin. They welcomed them into their life and raised them to finish high school.
“Then”….. Mary decided she wanted something to keep her busy and she built a restaurant in Mercer. The hotel was looking for a new owner at that time so she added it to her “to do” list. Over the years, she sold and bought more restaurants in Mercer, Clio and Corydon junction. She moved to town and tried retirement but it led to a restaurant and bar purchase and then finally to retirement. Mary was a member of the Mercer Baptist Church. She enjoyed quilting, flowers and gardening.
Mary joins a lot of loved ones that have gone on before her. Those preceding her are her much loved husband, L. D., on March 15, 2008; her parents; her brothers, Elmer Lee (Carrie) and Hubert Archie (Mildred) Henry; her sisters, Ethel (Earl) Cuppernoll, Betty Lou (Eldon) Hollinger, Twila Wavaleene (Jack) Maloney and Evelyn Esther (Frank) Niemeyer.
Survivors include her sisters who mourn her, Norma Jean (Patrick) Switlik, Hamilton, MO and Shirley Ann (John) Bohlman; daughter, Karen (Steve) Houk, Mercer, MO; grandchildren, Veta (Tim) Hill, Rick (Sheila) Houk and Christopher (April) Houk; 6 great grandchildren and many loving nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Mary will also be greatly missed by friends and neighbors.
Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, September 12 at Roberson Funeral Home, Princeton, MO. Burial will follow in the Lowry Cemetery, Mercer, MO. The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home where social distancing will be observed and masks are recommended. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. 316, Princeton, MO 64673. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com.