Mary Canterbury

Mary Louise Canterbury, 91, of Independence, was born September 17, 1915 to Truman and Inez (Raines) Neyhart and passed from this world January 13, 2007. Mary Louise was born and grew up in Kansas City and many were the stories of downtown and the plaza in the late twenties and thirties and from the smile on her face and sparkle in her eye she had fun. She lost her little sister, Velma Neyhart to illness while very young and never forgot her love. She attended and graduated from Westport High School then studied commercial art at Jane Hayes Gates Art Institute. After completing her studies she worked crafting the faces on porcelain dolls for Vincent Doll Shop. Mary then met and married her match Frank P. Canterbury in 1939. The two of them had three happy, healthy children, Frank Canterbury Jr. of Commerce City, Colorado; Velma Simmons of Independence and Dr. Robin Canterbury of Davenport, Iowa. Mary leaves in addition to her children, daughter-in-law Stephanie Canterbury, 12 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. She was also a longtime member of First Christian Church, Christian Women�s Fellowship, and Jobs Daughters. Sadly in 1979 her F.P., passed suddenly and as many of us, she thought of him often if not daily thereafter. It is for this reason, this cherished reunion, that I smile while I type amid the dull roar of two of her most rambunctious decedents! She was a talented painter throughout her life leaving many paintings to her loved ones. A note found among some of her things read, "I love to paint. It�s the only time I can find myself while I lose myself.� We, her family, found in her a loving, wife, mother and Granny. I heard her once say at a family gathering with a fair amount of wonder, "All these children. All this. I never thought.� I looked around and knew exactly what she meant. Mary Canterbury has left a proper and sublime legacy. I believe a good example is the finest thing a person can realize. My grandparents were both good examples and by that they have given us great hope for the many generations of our family yet to come.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Groves Hospice