Mary Margaret Raybourn

July 15, 1925 - January 9, 2019

93: Years, 5 Months, 25 Days

SERVICE

Hill and Son Funeral Home

Appleton City, Missouri

Friday January 11, 2019

10:00 a.m.

MINISTER

Pastor Marcus Cumpton

VISITATION

Hill and Son Funeral Home

Appleton City, Missouri

Thursday January 10, 2019

6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

INTERMENT

Oak Hill Cemetery

Butler, Missouri

MEMORIAL

Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church

Mary Margaret Raybourn, the daughter of T. Ray and Lottie (Hall) Thomas, was born July 15, 1925 and passed away peacefully at the Ellett Memorial Hospital on January 9, 2019, having reached the age of 93. She spent her formative years on Newberry's Evergreen Liberty Bell Farm near Spruce, Missouri, and later attended Oak Grove.  She fondly recalled the days of traveling to school on horseback with her sister and friends in all kinds of inclement weather.

Upon completing her education, Mary worked at Wynes' Grocery Store and Schlichtman's Hatchery in Appleton City, where she also rented an apartment above the movie theater, spending many happy evenings lying on her floor listening to the films play below. During World War II Mary began corresponding with John T Raybourn while he was stationed overseas, which began a lifetime of love. They were united in marriage on June 6, 1948, D-Day, and to this union two children were born: John Richard and Mary Jean.

Mary and John operated a farm and dairy operation outside of Appleton City for many years, where she helped milking cows, doing farm chores, and making repairs in the barns until John's death in 1978. After this life-altering event, she sold the dairy herd and began a career at Montgomery Ward, then Wal-Mart in Butler, Missouri, serving the public until her eightieth birthday.  After her retirement in 2005 she rejoined her family on the farm, enjoying times spent with her children and grandchildren.

Mary regularly worked in the garden, assisted with canning vegetables, and making many sweet delights, such as peach and apple butter every year. She dearly loved cooking and sewing, and was renown for her skills with the needle as well as baking.  Her family fondly remembers that she always had a homemade pie ready at a moments notice and made casseroles for anyone that became ill.  Apart from this, Mary remained devoted and active member of more than 70 years at Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church, organizing dinners, teaching Sunday school and leading many Bible studies.  When her health no longer allowed her to attend church services, she continued to study the scriptures and follow the televangelists Charles Stanley, John Hagee, and Billy Graham.  She will be deeply missed by her friends and family, who she loved more than anything in the world.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, T. Ray and Lottie (Hall) Thomas, her husband, John; a sister, Masie Gilmore; two granddaughters, Leslie and Johnna Raybourn.

She is survived by her two children: John Richard Raybourn and Mary Jean Robey; and one granddaughter, Jessica.