Mary Margaret Switzer (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Mary Margaret Switzer, daughter of William D. and Lucille A. Reed Taylor, was born November 14, 1944, in Pueblo, Colorado. She departed this life Thursday, May 12, 2016, in her home, near Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of seventy-one years, five months, and twenty-eight days.
On July 3, 1965, she was united in marriage to Robert L. Switzer, and to this union one daughter and one son were born.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Matthew Marlin Switzer; and several brothers and sisters.
Mary is survived by her husband of fifty years, Robert, of the home; a daughter, Rebekah Crooks, and her husband, Jon, of Camdenton, Missouri; three grandchildren, Matthew, Joshua, and Zachary; six great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Flossie Taylor; a number of nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
She was raised in Kansas and graduated from high school in Peru, Kansas. She then studied journalism for a time. She lived most of her young adult years in Chautauqua County, Kansas. After she and Robert were married, they lived in Stoutland, Missouri before moving to Lebanon. She and Robert lived in Tennessee for a time and then made their home in Florida, where Mary worked as a P.B.X. telephone operator for a hotel chain. In 1984, she and Robert returned to Lebanon, Missouri, and Mary was a devoted homemaker to her husband and family. She also worked for Wrinkle Supply Company and Starlite Enterprises. For the last ten years, Mary had volunteered with the Laclede County American Red Cross, and served as their communications officer. She and Robert helped organize volunteer workers, contacted prospective volunteers concerning upcoming training sessions, and devised a way to keep accurate records with contact information on each volunteer. Through their efforts, attendance at monthly meetings increased from 20 to 60 volunteers. In 2008, Mary and Robert were joint recipients of the Gloria Doss Award at the Laclede County Hometown Heroes banquet.
Mary made her profession of faith in Christ and was baptized in 1972. She and Bob were currently members of Shepherd’s Chapel in Arkansas. She always loved reading her Bible.
In addition to her work with the American Red Cross, she also loved doing crafts including making acorn people. She had a love for music since she was a small child. She had written many songs, played a variety of musical instruments and had made several recordings.
Mary was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life and her accomplishments and know that her family and friends will cherish the wonderful memories she created for them during her seventy-one years.
Memorial services will be held on Monday, May 16th at 1:00 p.m. at the Wallace Building in Lebanon, Mo. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross, and left at the funeral home or at the Wallace Building on the day of the service.
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