Mary Hammerbacher

Mary Marie Hammerbacher, 83, of Auburn, NE, formerly of Fair Play, MO, fell asleep in the arms of Jesus Friday, July 7, 2017 at Good Samaritan Society, Auburn. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 am Thursday, July 13, at Butler Funeral Home in Bolivar, MO, with a visitation from 5 - 7 pm on Wednesday July 12, at the funeral home. Mary Marie was born June 22, 1934 to William Homer and Mary Elnora “Henson” Brown on their old home place near Bolivar Landing. The youngest of 10, she was educated near Huron, Polk, and later Bolivar, and after losing her mother at the age of 12 1/2, was further raised by her father and older sisters. She never finished high school, yet after marriage received her GED and even some college credits. Mary said “one of the few places daddy would allow boys to take me home from was church and pie suppers”*, and it was at one of these pie suppers that she met the love of her life, when Wayne Hammerbacher purchased her pie and their relationship began. They were wed on January 6, 1951 in Harrison, AR, and made way to Kansas City, where Mary was the first of many a Hammerbacher to take work at Hallmark Cards. She left Halls to work various jobs including running Marie’s Fabrics from the home. She and Wayne raised 4 kids in the KC and Raytown area. In 1988 they retired and moved to Fair Play, MO. Mary was preceded in death by her husband Wayne; a daughter, Beth Stehwien; her parents, Bill and Mary Brown; 4 brothers, Jess, Bob, Noel, and Tom Brown; 4 sisters, Della Black, Mabel Vest, Stella Lightfoot, and Velma Fowler. She is survived by 2 daughters, Sharon Hall and Teresa Moberly and her husband Roger; one son, Mike; grandchildren, Lauren Phelps and husband Drew, Sarah Moberly, Daniel Moberly, Molly Moberly, Michael Stehwien, and Mary-Kate Stehwien; great grandchildren, Alyssa Phelps, Ethan Phelps, Braylin Moberly, and Jace Ramsey. She also leaves son in law, Scott Stehwien; one brother Marvin Brown, brothers in law, Milfred Hammerbacher and Tuff Hamlet, sister in law Georgia Hammerbacher, and scores of loving nieces and nephews. Mary Marie was born again and baptized, a faithful servant to the Lord throughout her whole life finishing her race as a member of Bismont Missionary Baptist Church. God’s grace sustained her through many adversities. An adoring parent and everyone’s mother, always the chauffeur, hospitable as they come, a friend to all that knew her, Mary was full of spunk and zealous in all endeavors, your ultimate go-getter. She was a member of many organizations, presiding over some, including Greater Kansas City Quilt Guild, Baker’s Dozen, The Sewing Geese, Sew and Sew Quilt Guild, Woodlawn, FCE, and University of Missouri Extension, just to name a few. Marie’s keen eye for selecting fabric combinations could not be matched. Her lifelong journey with quilts began at the foot of her mother, and she relished in passing it on to others to continue into the coming generations. Not only did she pass on her love of quilting, but she was an amazing cook and that legacy lives on in her son Mike and family and friends. *On Sunday, July 2nd, 2017, Mary Marie recollected to her son, “I believe the pie was either chocolate or lemon”! Arrangements are under the care and direction of the Butler Funeral Home in Bolivar.

Mary Hammerbacher

June 22, 1934 - July 7, 2017