Mary Jean Lady

Mary Jean (Robbins) Lady passed away peacefully at home on January 25, 2025, after a very short illness. Mary Jean was born on February 2, 1929, to Martha and Riley Robbins in Sedan, Kansas. She graduated from Sedan High School in 1947 and attended Emporia State College. She was a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority and graduated in 1951. She met Wendell Lady there and they were married in 1951. The couple spent one year at Kansas State University, while Wendell finished his degree and she worked at the Architectural Library as a secretary.

They spent one year in Ames, Iowa for Wendell’s work at the university, then moved to Kansas City. He worked as a project engineer at Black and Veatch for 40 years while Mary Jean focused on managing the home and raising their children. After retirement, they developed a small antique business, enjoying frequent trips to estate sales. Mary Jean specialized in the small household items and glassware. In 2022, they celebrated 71 years of marriage.

Mary Jean was preceded in death by her husband Wendell, her aforementioned parents and her brother, Richard Robbins. She leaves daughter Jan Bean (Jim), daughter Jill Allen, and son David Lady, as well as seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Mary Jean liked to quilt and play bridge, and was still able to manage a small slam in her final year. She was an avid fan of the KC Royals and Chiefs. She was a charter member of the Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas after having been a Methodist her entire life. She was a caring and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, always available, and a great listener. She had a great sense of humor, and was always ready to laugh. She was a backyard birdwatcher and loved animals and wildlife, especially cats. One of her favorite childhood memories was playing with her cousins on the hay bales at her grandparents’ farm. She will be dearly missed and remembered by so many people.

A visitation will be held at Church of the Resurrection, Wesley Chapel on April 5, 2025 from 10 am to 11 am. A Celebration of Life Service will follow at 11:00 a.m.