At the time, the family lived in Viola, Ks. They moved to the Plainview area of Wichita, when her father went to work at Boeing. The family was joined by Robert Allen Drury on September 15, 1942. Mary Lou claimed she spent much of her time trying to keep Bob out of trouble. Mary Lou spent her childhood in Wichita, as well as extended visits to her family’s farms in the summer. Mary Lou spent hours riding her bike and playing with her friends. She loved the coal bin, because it was her dollhouse. She attended Roy Rogers Elementary, Roosevelt Junior High and Wichita East High School, graduating in 1958.
Mary Lou attended Sunnyside Baptist Church from the time she was three years old to the present day. She was baptized in 1949. One Sunday evening, Allen Conner, and his brother Alvin Conner went forward to join the church. Mary Lou took one look at him and said to her friend, “That is the guy I’m going to marry!” Mary Lou was 14 at the time, and it would be a little while before she would even be allowed to date him, but she never wavered. They would eventually be married at Sunnyside, on February 14, 1959, having spent a total of almost 70 years together.
Mary Lou and Allen volunteered for numerous activities and committees at the church, with some being BYF, ABW, teaching Sunday School and working in the kitchen and nursery, even church custodian. She enjoyed singing in the choir and helping with many missionary projects. Their family became three with the birth of their eldest daughter, Terri Conner. The family was complete with the birth of their younger daughter, Julie Cox.
Mary Lou was a brilliant wife, mother and homemaker. She could cook or bake anything. She was a very adept seamstress and a wonderful mother to her two girls. She loved to sing and play the piano and organ. She played both instruments at Sunnyside for many years. One of her favorite types of piano music was Ragtime. She enjoyed waking the girls up each morning with her very loud rendition of “I Can’t Get ‘Em Up”.
Many who knew her would describe her as extremely gracious, generous and kind. She was very supportive of her family, friends and church. She was a mentor to many of the younger women, and a gifted VBS teacher. Many children met the Lord through her teaching. She was the church secretary and was able to assist in the day to day operations of the church. The family participated in many services for Anna’s Care Home and The Union Rescue Mission.
Much of her family life included travel. Many weekends were spent camping and boating in the various lakes around Kansas. She loved camping with the families from Sunnyside, singing and visiting around the campfire. She remembered the words to the old songs and hymns until she went to be with the Lord. The family also traveled to many states and 13 countries while the girls were growing up.
She had a way of making everyday things so special. Everything from heart-shaped sandwiches when her girls came home for lunch-to “Conner Special” on Friday nights. She was a master at elevating inexpensive grocery items like Kraft Mac and Cheese and cans of Beenie Weenies. The family always felt like they had the best meals in the world. Everything she made, she made with love, and her family and friends could taste it. It was her gift and her love language. The most unusual dessert she made was bananas with mayonnaise and brown sugar on top. It won a Mother's Day promotion in the local paper for the most unusual dessert made by a Mother.
Mary Lou was a fashion plate in her day. She had a great sense of timeless, classical style. She was the quintessential Bobbysoxer, complete with poodle skirts and crinolines. She had beautiful outfits, with matching pillbox hats and handbags. She looked a lot like Jackie Kennedy when her girls were growing up. She made sure her girls had pretty dresses for church each week. She also had them sleep in foam rollers every Saturday night.
One of Mary Lou’s greatest joys were the births of her granddaughters, Camarra Linnece Coates Tafesse, Karlie Rose Jane Cox, and Gracie Lou Cox. She was a tremendous source of strength and a touchstone for them. She always listened, counseled, and loved unconditionally. She taught them many songs, skills and sayings.
Mary Lou is survived by her husband, Allen Conner, her brother, Bob Drury, sister-in-law Barbara Drury, her two daughters, Terri and Julie, and her three granddaughters, Cami, Karlie and Gracie. Her brothers and sisters in laws, Alvin and Pat Conner, Sarah Lea Milner, Marilyn Conner, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her son-in-law, Kris Cox, and the family's very closest friends Don, Carolyn and Donna Lindsley.
A graveside service for Mary will be held Friday, May 17, 2024 at 3:00 PM at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, 11800 West Highway 54, Wichita, KS 67209. A celebration of life will occur Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 10:30 AM at Sunnyside Baptist Church, 2618 E Morris St, Wichita, KS 67211.
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