Mary J Brodnax

She was preceded in death by her husband Benjamin Hall Brodnax. Survived by her loving family Linda Ann Bir, Kathryn Sue Stephenson, Benjamin Hall Brodnax Jr, Sandra Elaine Loncor, Trina Stroebel, Pamela Underwood, Jennifer Summers, Stacey Stephenson, Daniel Brodnax, Andrew Brodnax, Lucas Brodnax, Kyrstie Stroebel, Bailey Stroebel, Madison Stroebel, Ryan Stroebel, Jake Stephen Summers, Paige Kate Lyn Summers, Brady Harrison Summers, Parker Will Summers, Cydney Underwood, Tyler Underwood, Morgan Christine Brodnax, Hailey Grace Brodnax, Rylee Lyric Brodnax.

Mary Joy (Ward) Brodnax was born on January 20, 1920 in Goff, Kansas. The first years of her life were spent on a farm called the homeplace, they stayed there farming and her father teaching until he was elected to the office of county clerk in November 1932. Her family moved to Seneca, Kansas in January 1933.

They lived in Seneca for 20 years. Her father wrote that they tried to get their youngest daughter Mary Joy to take up music because she had the opportunity that none of the rest had ever enjoyed but we were up against the old saying that "You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink". When Mary Joy had completed high school she decided to take up nurses training and proceeded to enroll in Pittsburg Nursing School, she did not complete the training. She then enrolled in a business course in Kansas city and did succeed and won the confidence of all of her employers. She worked also as a civilian employee for the federal government. She retired from civil service in the 1980's.

After World War II, Mary Joy met and married Benjamin Hall Brodnax in California on June 10, 1946. They lived in California until after the birth of Ben Jr in 1952. They moved at that time to Kansas in order to have help from family with the three children. They were married until his death in 1985.

The family is in the process of planning a celebration of Mary Joy's life.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association .