Mary Lou Waters

Mary Lou, age 101, daughter of John Fiester Harrison and Cora Mabel Harrison, was born in Manhattan, Kan., on July 27, 1913. She passed away on August 18, 2014. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 23, 2014, St John the Apostle Catholic Church, 4607 W. State Road 46, Bloomington, Indiana, with Mass of Resurrection following at 11 a.m.

Mary Lou’s family moved to Kansas City, Mo., in 1920. She graduated from the University of Kansas in 1934 with an AB in Spanish and received her MA from KU in 1935. She was married in 1937 to Lawrence Leslie Waters and moved to Champagne, Ill. They next moved to Lawrence, Kansas in 1940, where their three children were born. They moved to Bloomington, Ind., in 1948. In 2012 Mary Lou and Les celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary. Les passed away two months following this milestone and 5 months shy of his 100th birthday.

Mary Lou was involved in numerous university and community activities over the years. She was a member of Sigma Kappa social sorority and was an active alumna. She was a Cub Scout, Brownie and Girl Scout leader for 10 years. An active member of the University Women’s Club, she was also president of the Newcomers Club, president of AE of PEO, and president of Psi Iota Xi, philanthropic organizations. Always interested in music, Mary Lou was a longtime member of the Camarata Guild and board member of the Friends of Music, as well as President of the Bloomington Chapter of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Indianapolis Symphony. She was asked to be an honorary Patroness of Sigma Alpha Iota music sorority. She enjoyed reading, gardening, entertaining and playing bridge and was an outstanding cook. She rarely missed IU basketball and football games. She doted on her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who were “the best”.

Mary Lou traveled extensively around the world and became an honorary citizen of Lofer, Austria. She was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church. She was an active member of Meadowood Retirement Community since 1995.

Mary Lou is survived by three children: Robert Lawrence Waters (Catherine Pannell), Linda Waters Dro (Bob), and Donna Waters Boles; three grandchildren: John Benjamin Boles (Erin), Suzanne Boles Parker (Wally Hosn), and Justin Michael Dro (Michele); and four great-grandchildren: Ansley Caroline Boles, Jillian Claire Boles, Brogan Waters Dro and Weston Waters Hosn.

Her family wishes to express deep gratitude to the staff of Meadowood and the caregivers from Eldercare who so lovingly tended to her.

If friends so desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Les and Mary Lou Waters Scholarship in the International Experiences Program (P37IU20054) c/o Brian Yeley at the IU Foundation, PO Box 500, Bloomington, IN 47402 or the Talking Books Library, Indiana State Library, 140 N. Senate Ave., Indianapolis, Ind., 46204-2296

Online condolences may be given at www.DayDeremiahFrye.com.