Mary Frances Garey

Born on July 14th, 1936, to Troy Kinder and Mary (Gable) Kinder. Mary was a woman of remarkable warmth, creativity, and strength. Throughout her long and full life, she touched the hearts of all who knew her with her generous spirit and her deep devotion to family. Mary was also proud of her Native American heritage as a registered citizen of the Cherokee Nation. Mary had a gift for making a house a home - whether she was in kitchen crafting a cherished family recipe, at her sewing machine creating something beautiful, or picking up a hammer for her next carpentry project. She loved to dance and brought joy and laughter into every room she entered. Her love for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren was the defining purpose of her life, and her memory will be treasured by all who were blessed to know her.

Mary is lovingly survived by two sisters, Hazel Blackmore and Barbara (John) Carroll and her six children, Susan Dobbs of East Peoria, Connie Weatherford of Pekin, Kathy Goodin of Wausau, Wisconsin, Leanna (Rick) Brassell of Eagle River, Roger (Hollie) Goodwin of Green Valley and Patrick Goodwin of Pelican Lake, Wisconsin. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Brandy (Brian) Lair, Tonya Weatherford, Jamie Rye, Jessica Rowe, Kayla (Nick) Mathisen, Marissa Brassell, Derek Goodwin, Jordan Goodwin and Kristen Goodwin; as well as twenty-two cherished great-grandchildren; seven great-great grandchildren and one great-great-great grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband and love of her life, Robert Garey; one sister, May Hasty; one brother, William Kinder; her beloved grandchildren, Travis Weatherford, Jason Goodin and Scott Goodin, Jr. and one great grandchild.

Her memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 11, 2026 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin, where a memorial visitation will be held one hour before the service. Cremation has been accorded.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

To express condolences online, visit www.Preston-Hanley.com

“She danced through life and left love in every step.”