Mary Ella Stuewe, 63, of Alma, Kansas, died Sunday, August 19, 2012, at her home. Mary bravely fought cancer for eight years. She was a member of the community for thirty-six years.

Mary was born August 8, 1949, in Kansas City, Missouri, the daughter of Don and Ella Bundren Williams. She attended local schools and graduated from Southwest High School in 1967. She then attended and graduated from the University of Kansas with a Secondary Education Degree in English. While at KU, she was head pom-pon girl and a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. She remained a loyal Jayhawk her entire life.

Mary was the Clerk of the Board of Education for USD 329 for over fifteen years. Prior to being clerk, she also served as secretary and treasurer for the board. Before moving to Alma, Mary taught Junior High Social Studies in Great Bend. Mary loved to volunteer, she especially enjoyed helping with Meals on Wheels and WARC. She also spent several years as the financial advisor for the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority at Kansas State University. Mary was an active person and loved to walk, swim and travel. She enjoyed watching football, basketball and the Royals.

She married David A. Stuewe on December 28, 1971, in Kansas City, Missouri. After 40 years of marriage, he survives at their home.

Mary is also survived by her daughter, Melissa Moodie and her husband, Evan, Hutchinson; her son, Christopher and his fiancé, Melissa Papa, Overland Park; her granddaughter, Allison Moodie; her sisters, Melinda Trummel and her husband, Clarence, West Hartford, Connecticut, Sarah Trench, London, England, Nancy Williams, Seattle, Washington and Jane Pettersen and her husband, Lawrence, Newport, Oregon; her sister-in-law, Dana Morton and her husband, Bruce, Petaluma, California; eleven nieces and nephews, nine grand-nieces and nephews and numerous friends.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, August 23, 2012, at St. John Lutheran Church in Alma, Kansas. Reverend Robert Grimm will be officiating. The family will greet friends following the service. They suggest memorial contributions to the Alma Area Foundation for a scholarship fund to benefit area students, and those may be sent in care of Campanella-Gentry Funeral Home in Alma. Online condolences may be made at www.campanellafuneral.com