Mary Ann Mobley, age 86, passed away peacefully on June 16, 2020 in the arms of her devoted husband of 65 years, Dwight Mobley, at the Villas of Holly Brook in Mt. Carmel, IL.
Mary Ann was born May 16, 1934 to James and Louise McGuire of Ridgway, IL. She graduated from the Ridgway High School class of 1952 and attended Southern Illinois University. In 1955, she left college to marry her high school sweetheart Dwight who had just returned from the war in Korea. The two of them started their family in Champaign-Urbana as Dwight completed graduate school at the University of Illinois. The family moved to the Mt. Carmel area in 1966, living on a small farm near Lancaster. Mary Ann raised four children, Diana Catt (Barry) of Monrovia, IN, Elaine Brown (Allen) of Mt. Carmel, Jim Mobley (Linda) of Brighton, MI, and Jerry Mobley (Cynthia) of Mt. Carmel, 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren (and counting). She was also foster mother to assorted orphaned piglets, calves, and puppies, and was the sworn enemy of Dwight’s ill-tempered pet duck.
Mary Ann was a devout member of St. Mary’s Catholic church in Mt. Carmel where she often played the organ. She was a member of the Daughters of Isabella. When her children were all old enough to enroll at St. Mary’s school, she joined the workforce as a secretary at Snap-On Tools, and retired from there after more than 20 years of service. Along with her friend Thelma Steckler, Mary Ann served as the leader of the Country Cousins 4-H club for many years, teaching dozens of young women how to knit, crochet, and sew. She also shared her talents at Wabash Valley College as a part-time instructor. Mary Ann was an avid gardener. She was proud of her canned green beans, her dried apples, and her gooseberries which she handed out by the gallon to anyone who would take them, and from which she made countless pies that she donated to fund raisers and bake sales. After retiring, Mary Ann and Dwight enjoyed taking long trips in their motor home, usually accompanied by a pair of age-matched grandchildren. These trips forged lasting, loving relationships and life-long memories.
Left to cherish Mary Ann’s memory is her husband of 65 years, Dwight; children Diana (Barry) Catt, Elaine (Allen) Brown, James (Linda) Mobley, and Jerry (Cynthia) Mobley; twelve grandchildren Mike and Maria Catt, Kristy and Tyler Murphy, Wade Catt, Matt and Anne McClane, Carrie McClane, Zach and Melissa Mobley, Erin Mobley and fiancé Wryan Webb, Meagan and Jared Steckler, Amber Mobley, Clif Mobley, Kaitlyn and Al Smith, T.J. Mobley; twelve great-grandchildren; and a brother Pat (Sharon) McGuire.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and three infant daughters, Agnes Ann, Mary Christina and Theresa Ann.
There will be a visitation Saturday, June 20, 2020, from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m. at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 125 West Fifth Street, Mt. Carmel, IL with a Funeral Mass beginning at 3:00 p.m. Burial will follow immediately after at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Mt. Carmel, IL.
Memorials may be made to the St. Mary’s Catholic School Endowment Fund. Envelopes will be available at the church.
Condolences may be made online at www.short-cunninghamfh.com
Short-Cunningham Funeral Home is honored to serve the Mobley family.
