Mary Blender's Obituary
Mary Ann Blender, daughter of Oram F. and Charlettia Dunkel Bacon, was born March 10, 1949, in Sullivan, Missouri. She departed this life Saturday, July 22, 2006, in her home, near Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of fifty-seven years, four months, and twelve days. On December 6, 1968, she was united in marriage to John Robert Blender, and to this union one daughter and two sons were born. Her parents; a son, John R. Blender II; and two brothers-in-law, Russell Blender, and Bob Copeland; preceded her in death. Mary is survived by her husband of thirty-seven years, John, of the home; a daughter, Rosanna M. Underdown, and her husband, Jarrod, of Springfield, Missouri; a son, Christopher Michael Blender, and his wife, Amanda, of Springfield, Missouri; two grandchildren, Johnny and Gracie; two brothers, Raymond Bacon, and his wife, Linda, of Sullivan, Missouri, and Oram Bacon, and his wife, Janice, of Shipman, Illinois; two sisters, Alice Nye, and her husband, Roy, of Bourbon, Missouri, and Charlene Copeland, of Sullivan, Missouri; a brother-in-law, Gene Jones, of Lebanon, Missouri; a number of nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and many friends. She was born and raised in Sullivan, Missouri, and graduated from Sullivan High School in the Class of 1967. Soon after she and John were married, they made their home in Lebanon, Missouri and lovingly raised their children. Besides being a devoted homemaker to her family, Mary also became an X-ray technician and worked in that field for over thirty years. She began her career at the Wallace-Rowden Hospital, which later became Breech Medical Center, and continued to work through the transition to St. John’s Hospital in Lebanon. Mary had made her profession of belief in Christ and followed the Baptist faith throughout her life. In her spare time she enjoyed bowling, working in her yard and watching hummingbirds. She loved country music and was proud of the fact that she had X-rayed Tammy Wynette. She was an extremely devoted Elvis Presley fan and loved anything to do with Elvis. Her family was very important to her and she especially enjoyed her grandchildren. Mary was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life and her accomplishments and will cherish the wonderful memories she created for her family and friends. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 26, 2006, in the Holman-Howe Funeral Home, Lebanon. Burial will be in the Lebanon Cemetery. Visitation will be held Tuesday evening from 7 - 8:30 p.m. under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Lebanon, Missouri. Memorial contributions to St. John's Lebanon Heritage Foundation Cancer Center may be made through the funeral home.
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