Mary E. "Sue" Olinger

When someone is identified as a natural leader, certain images come to mind. First thoughts are of a no-nonsense, tough-minded, dedicated and disciplined person. This description accurately fits Mary E. "Sue" Olinger who was indeed a born manager. She will be remembered as being highly organized, practical and realistic. She was a person who always carried a strong sense of duty with her throughout her life. Possessed with traditional “old school” morals, Mary or better known as Sue, was an individual who clearly communicated to those around her just who she was and what she was all about. Everyone acquainted with Sue knew her as a well-respected woman who was a stable force in her community.

Mary "Sue" was born on January 31, 1922 at home in Gravity, Iowa. Her parents were Frederick Templeton and Anna Leticia Matheny Templeton. Sue was raised in Iowa. Even as a youngster, she learned to be objective and decisive. Her faith in the principles of authority and dependability was something that she carried with her throughout her life.

As a young girl, Sue was able to put her natural abilities to work. She was a bit like the sergeant of the family, helping to make sure that the others did what they should do and that they avoided those things they weren’t supposed to. In other words, she liked to organize and direct. Sue was raised with four siblings. Their names were Gladys, Garland, Cecil and Archie. Sue had an inborn appreciation for the order in the family, allowing for the oldest members to be the most respected and to take on the most responsibility. For Sue, this was a natural order of life, one she gladly embraced.

Sue's matter-of-fact attitude about most things was developed during her childhood. As a young girl, Sue enjoyed being part of teams, and organizations and groups of other kids who shared similar interests. Sue took part in basketball.

In school, Sue was as close to being a model student as one could possibly imagine. She sought to achieve perfect attendance in all of her classes. She would eagerly complete her homework, and often put in extra study time when she felt it was necessary. A logical and focused thinker, Sue was always good at following directions and meeting her schedules, whether they were set by her teachers or were self-imposed. Sue’s personal motto could well have been, “Do it right the first time.” She attended Arispie High School in Arispie, Iowa for two years.

Sue was sociable and approachable. Because she was always so straightforward in how she approached relationships, friends and family knew that what they saw was always what they got. She enjoyed the camaraderie of being with a group of friends. When Sue was a member of a group, her interaction worked to keep the others grounded. She wasn’t afraid to confront her friends and, when necessary, she challenged them to stick to the task at hand. Those close to Sue came to expect her high standards of performance. While growing up, some of her best friends were in Beaver City, Nebraska were Dorothy Bottrell, Marvis Darling and Vivian Goins. Later in life, she became friends with Carolyn Strobel and Roz Wilcoxen in Belton, Missouri.

An objective and conscientious individual, Sue reveled in the security of her family. On December 27, 1938 she exchanged wedding vows with Orel James Olinger. They eloped in St. Joseph, Missouri. One of Sue’s most endearing qualities was her uncanny ability to remember important dates and anniversaries, and her unending enthusiasm for organizing a celebration for her family and friends.

Sue was ever watchful of her son Fred. She worried about him and was deeply concerned for his development as he grew up. She maintained a firm hand in his upbringing. Sue would give her stamp of approval to his requests, as long as she could see how they might benefit. She also had the ability to enforce the rules as needed to ensure that her son was properly raised. Sue was blessed with one son, Fred. Sue and Orel were also blessed with five grandchildren, Rex, Diane, Jim, Carly and Brian. They also had 10 Great Grandchildren.

Being a hard worker who praised efficiency, Sue was always striving to make improvements where they were necessary. She was able to analyze situations and problems, keeping everything and everyone on track. An excellent project supervisor, Sue was a person who could quickly make decisions based on the information available. She worked cooperatively and expected the same from her colleagues. In both her personal and professional environments, Sue upheld her standards. Her primary occupation was homemaker. She owned her own Beauty Shop and Clothing Store. Sue was a team player who certainly lived out the motto of “give me a job, and I will get it done.”

Sue approached her leisure time in the same manner that she approached her life. A person who enjoyed being neat and orderly and one who understood the nature of things, she appreciated the hours she was able to devote to her various hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were sewing, gardening and fishing. Sue was content to enjoy her favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

Playing by the rules was a natural thing for Sue to do in life and that carried over to her enjoyment of sports. In high school, Sue played basketball. Recreational sports included fishing. She also was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity.

Faith was important to Sue. She held high moral standards and was worried about the moral decay she saw around her. For that reason she held deep spiritual beliefs that she was willing to share. She was a Methodist .

When it came time to travel or take a vacation, Sue used her scheduling expertise to make sure everyone and everything was ready to go. That also meant that she made certain no single person was overworked in putting the trip together. Sue had a knack for making sure that everyone who was involved had their specific tasks and that those tasks were completed. Favorite vacations included fishing.

Sue really never retired from being a homemaker, she was always well prepared. She used her critical evaluation skills to make sure that every detail had been preplanned and attended to. Her new life involved relocating to Belton, MO. In retirement, she found new pleasure in sewing, singing and fishing. In many ways, Sue loved her free time. It provided her with the opportunity to catch up with her friends, attend functions and group outings, and tackle new interesting activities.

Sue passed away on April 24, 2010 at the Hospice House in Kansas City, MO which is on Wornall Road fromn natural causes. She is survived by her son Fred, 5 Grandchildren and 10 Great Grandchildren. Services were held at 2:00 P. M. on Tuesday April, 27, 2010 at the McGilley & George Funeral Home in Belton, MO. Sue was laid to rest in Belton Cemetery next to her husband Orel. Sue's family requests that contributions be made to the Kansas City Hospice House.

All who knew her would agree that Sue was a pillar of the community. She lived her life with her feet firmly on the ground. She had a strong work ethic, was pragmatic in her thoughts and acts, and constantly sought the means for self-improvement. She was willing to share her ideas and knowledge for the benefit of others, so that they could accomplish more in their lives. Mary E. "Sue" Olinger did her best to ensure that her family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, and everyone whose life she touched was given the chance to become a better person.