Mary Landreth

(From Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary)

Ms. Mary Jane Landreth, 88, of Joplin, Missouri, departed this life on Sunday afternoon, February 23, 2014, in the comfort of her home, after a recent decline in health.

Mary entered this life on May 3, 1925 in Joplin, Missouri, to the union of the late Harry and Pearl (Huffman) Landreth. She was a lifelong resident of Joplin, Missouri. She graduated co-valedictorian from Joplin High School class of 1943 and the Washington University School of Nursing in St. Louis, Missouri. She worked as an RN during WW-II at Camp Crowder in Neosho, Missouri.

Mary never had any children of her own, but was a matriarchal figure to her family and was loving and caring to her nieces/nephews, great nieces/nephews and great-grand nieces/nephews. She valued education and helped many members of her family attend college. She was a shrewd businesswoman who gave solid financial advice. She shared her love of traveling with her family, taking her great nieces to Alaska and her great nephews to the Bahamas. For the last several decades she has wintered in Stuart, Florida.

Mary possessed a profound love of golf. She was a member and former board member of Twin Hills Country Club, former board member of Freeman Hospital where she hosted the annual nursing conference and was an active member of the Missouri Southern Nursing Scholarship Program.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Ed and George Landreth. Mary is survived by one brother, Harry Landreth of the state of Kentucky; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-grand nieces and nephews.

Graveside services are 2:00 p.m. Thursday, February 27, 2014 at Mount Hope Cemetery in Webb City, Missouri with Chaplain Danny Mullins officiating and additional remarks by Gerald “Dink” Sommer. Those honoring her life by serving as pallbearers are Jimmy Snyder, Steve Thomas, Fred Landreth, Freddie Landreth, Dink Sommer and Justin Tubb. The family will receive friends on Wednesday evening from 6-7:00 p.m. in the chapel of Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary in Joplin, Missouri. On-line condolences may be sent to the family through our website www.thornhilldillon.com. In lieu of flowers memorials are being directed to the Freeman Foundation and contributions may be left at the mortuary. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of the Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary in Joplin, Missouri.