Mary Agnes Salva

Mary Agnes Quigley Salva passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Wednesday, December 6 at the age of 83.  Mary was born in St. Louis, Missouri on August 19, 1940, to William and Percy Quigley where she was raised in an Irish Catholic home.  

Mary attended Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kansas.  Upon graduating, she spent a year at Donnelly College before transferring to the University of Kansas where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Education in 1962.  She would go on to earn her Masters in Education from Avila College in the 1980’s. 

She met the love of her life, David, on May 7, 1960.  They were married on August 17, 1963, at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  They raised three daughters, Kelly, Susan and Beth in their Independence, Missouri home with faith, love, laughter and a strong sense of heritage.  Mary and David always put family first and created a wholesome environment in which to raise their children.  The girls spent many summer days romping through the enormous vegetable garden and summer evenings sitting in the backyard snapping green beans and catching fireflies.   

Mary and David spent 50 beautiful years together as a married couple.   They shared many of the same hobbies such as gardening, travel, attending KU basketball games, fishing trips to the Ozarks and visits to the casino.   Mary was an avid reader and spent many hours working on crossword puzzles. 

Mary had a great love for children and she shared that love throughout the 25+ years she spent as an educator.  When her daughters were younger, she worked as a substitute teacher and librarian.  She taught at St. Mary’s Elementary for a few years before moving to Holy Family School where she taught 1st grade from 1976 to 1984 in Independence, Missouri.  The next 15 years were spent in the Kansas City, Missouri school district teaching 1st grade at Manchester Elementary and then George Washington Carver until retiring in 1999.  

Following the passing of her husband, David, in 2013, Mary filled her time gardening and volunteering.  She became involved with her local library where she volunteered to teach English as a Second Language to adults.  She also spent time volunteering at Harvesters and St. Ann’s Parish.  She loved visiting with her daughters, grandchildren and great grandson, not to mention all her grand dogs.    

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, David Matthew Salva, parents, William Joseph Quigley and Percy Opal Quigley, sister, Janet Ann Quigley, and half- brother, Harvey Litzinger.   

She is survived by her daughters, Kelly Stilley (Roy) of Independence, MO, Susan Gibson (James) of Brookside, MO, and Beth Boresow (Jerome) of Shawnee, KS.  She is also survived by her nine grandchildren, Rebecka, Matthew, Mary, Jonathan, Ashlen, Katherine, Alexander, Sara, Sophia and one great grandchild, Anderson. 

Mary’s family would like to wholeheartedly thank the aids and nurses at Maggie’s Place and the nurses of Ascend Hospice for taking such wonderful care of her.  They have been like a second family to Mary and her family. 

Visitation and praying of the Rosary will be held Thursday, December 14 at 10:00am followed by a funeral Mass at 11:00am at St. Elizabeth Parish, 2 E. 75th St. KCMO 64114.  Burial to follow at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery, 7601 Blue Ridge Blvd, Raytown, MO 64138.