Mary Hiner passed away peacefully on Oct. 9, 2022, at age 95. She was born Nov. 12, 1926, in White Cloud, Kansas, to Floyd and Grace (Steeley) Nuzum and was the fourth of seven children. Siblings included Freida, Helen, Kenneth, Joy, Irma, and Dick.
Mary grew up on a farm in White Cloud, attended grade school in Iowa Point, and graduated in 1944 from high school in White Cloud. Upon graduation, Mary took a train to Washington, D.C., and worked two years at the Pentagon, eventually returning to Wichita, Kansas. There, she worked at Standard Oil and then met and married Robert (Bob) Hiner in 1948 and had four daughters, Barbara, Teresa, Susan, and Bernie (Mary Bernice). The family eventually moved to Pittsburg.
In Pittsburg, Mary worked for a dentist, Dr. D.W. Cheek, then at Pittsburg High School as the Activity Treasurer for 19 years, retiring in 1987. Mary was a member of the First Christian Church, the Ladies Golf Association (Countryside GC), Altrusa, and volunteered in the Ladies Auxiliary at Mt. Carmel Hospital.
Bob and Mary were avid golfers and took their clubs with them whenever they traveled by car. Mary loved the game and played until she was 92. She had three holes-in-one, participated in and won many tournaments in the SEK league, and was called "Fairway Mary" by fellow golfers. In addition to golf, Mary enjoyed bingo, dancing polka at Barto's, and a good margarita.
Mary was predeceased by Bob in 2000, her parents, and all siblings – Freida Shear, Helen Miller, Kenneth Nuzum, Joy Vodopest, Irma Richey and Dick Nuzum. After her husband died, Mary enjoyed a friendship with Fred Boham and his daughters Deb and Cindy.
Survivors include daughters Barbara McMurry of Joplin, Teresa Ohlemeier (Jerry) of Lawrence, Kansas, Susan Albright of Eudora, Kansas, and Bernice Hiner of Lawrence, Kansas; grandchildren Dustin McMurry (Caitlin), Daniel Ohlemeier (Katie Gonzales), Kristen Ohlemeier, Corinne Torongo (Bob), Erin Moriarty and Matt McAneney; great-grandchildren Emilee, Nic, Eddy, Margot, Reagan, Haylee, Matalynn; and one great-great-grandchild, Ashton.
The family would like to thank the staff and residents of Meadowlark Estates, Lawrence, Kansas, where she lived for the last six years, for making her final years pleasant and fun. Also, thanks to Midland Hospice for their care and support.
Services will be announced at a later date by the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home of Pittsburg, Kansas. Condolences may be left at www.bathnaylor.com.
