Mary Ann McCormick

The world lost a spark of joy on July 15, 2024, when Mary (Early) McCormick went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, after a years-long battle with cancer and COPD. Perhaps one of the most optimistic and faith-filled people on the planet, Mary made an impact everywhere she went. It all started on January 5, 1939, when she stepped foot into this world. The daughter of Floyd and Annabelle Early, older sister to Ben and Jan (Crook), and friend to countless others. Mary graduated high school at 16, married the love of her life, S.E. (Mac) McCormick in 1955, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Mac and Mary would welcome three kids into their lives: Jana (Hublick), Mike, and Kip. This “fearsome fivesome” would face the highs, lows, wins and losses as a team. But it was Mary who was the glue of the family. Despite her desires to lead her family as a traveling musical group, she decided to enter the medical field, serving as an executive assistant to physicians and hospital CEOs from Kansas City, Missouri to Wichita, Kansas. She was active in the Sweet Adelines Santa Fe Trail Chapter, the Red Hat Society, and was a member of the International Society of Poets.

Her greatest joy was being a mom, grandma, and “Grandma Great” to her great grandkids. Mary would say that she was born for that specific purpose. God would have even bigger plans for her. As Mary faced Mac’s death (November 2010) while staring at yet another battle with cancer, God placed it on her heart to focus outside of herself, embracing others as if they were her own. This became her legacy. Mary never knew a stranger. She even befriended the infamous “naked cowboy” on a subway in New York City, concerned that he simply needed a hug and a smile (and maybe a robe).

Mary loved Jesus with a passion. Her mantra was, “That God is so sweet to me!” During her seven years of weekly chemotherapy, she decided to rename the chemo sessions “Happy Hour.” It was during that time in which she vowed always to encourage, pray with, and give a smile to other patients and staff members. Her goal, in her words, was to be “Jesus with purple hair” as she encouraged others in some of the worst times in their lives.

Everywhere Mary went she made it a better place. She hated to exercise and would argue that she was allergic to sweat. Yet it was through the Wichita YMCA’s Livestrong program that she would, once again, make an impact on others. She became an unofficial spokesperson for the program, which added years to her life.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Annabelle Early; husband, S.E. (Mac); her daughter, Jana (Hublick); and her son, Mike (Linda). She is survived by her sister, Jan (Paul Crook); brother, Ben (Gloria); sons, Kip (Linda) and Bob (Jana) Hublick; as well as several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, August 31st, 2024, at Resthaven Mortuary Chapel, 11800 W. Hwy 54, Wichita, KS, 67209.

In lieu of flowers,as an expression of sympathy, the family has designated donations may be made to:

Compassus Hospice in memory of Mary McCormick at https://hospiceangels.org/ways-to-give/make-a-memorial-or-honor-a-loved-ones-name. Please ensure you specify the Compassus Hospice location of Wichita, Kansas.