Mary Keerns

Mary Keerns, 90, Del City, OK formerly of Independence was born in Moberly, MO, on December 8, 1920 to Joseph and Orra (Tomlinson) Offutt. Mary graduated from Excelsior Springs High School and Chilocothe Business College. She met Bob Keerns while working at Bauer and Black in Chicago, IL. They married on December 21, 1941. In 1945, after Bob returned from serving in the US Army in Europe, they moved to Independence, MO. Mary worked part time as a secretary for many years, including for the Kansas City, MO School District and the Independence Regional Health Center. She retired in 1988. Mary was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Social Order of the Beauceants. After retirement, Mary and Bob attended Elderhostels, fished, and volunteered with the Harry S. Truman Library. Mary was placed on the Truman Library Volunteer Wall of Honor for contributing 1999.75 hours of volunteer service. Mary was a member of the Calvary Presbyterian Church in Independence. After moving to Oklahoma City in 2007, Mary continued working for the Truman Library. She also crocheted beanie hats for the Children’s Hospital at the OU Medical Center. She enjoyed crocheting, using the computer, reading books using her Kindle. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Jim Offutt and Joseph Offutt, and her sister, Martha Martin. She is survived by her sister, Elizabeth Graesser, her daughter, Carol Manning, and son-in-law, Hugh Manning. A celebration of Mary’s life will be at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at Carson-Speaks Chapel; 1501 W. Lexington Ave., Independence, MO. Mary will be buried next to Bob in the Mount Washington Cemetery in Independence, MO. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.