Mary L. Dickerson

Mary L. Dickerson, 59, of Independence, MO passed away on August 31, 2005 at the Research Medical Center. A visitation will be held from 6-8:00 p.m. on Friday, September 2, at the Speaks Suburban Chapel. The service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday at the chapel, with burial at Oak Ridge Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the St. Jude�s Children�s Hospital or the Transitional Living Program at Synergy Services. Mary was born on February 25, 1946 in Jefferson City, MO to Sylvester and Lena Welschmeyer. She graduated from Helias High School in Jefferson City, MO in 1964, and married Walter Reichel (deceased) and later married Jack Dickerson. Mary and her family moved to Kansas City in 1973 and resided in
Independence for the remainder of her life. She was very compassionate and non-judgmental, often times helping people work through their problems without regard for her own. Mary enjoyed dancing, music, crafting, gardening flowers, and especially spending time with her family. She retired after 40 years of service with the State of Missouri, 1963-2002. Mary enjoyed helping people the most, particularly in the latter years of her career, when she worked as a Job Corps counselor assisting young people getting started down the right road in life. This was emblematic of her life, helping others and serving as an unofficial "mother� to hundreds of kids. Mary is survived by her husband of 32 years, Jack Dickerson; one daughter, Denise and husband Don Bearce; two sons, Neil and wife Cindy Reichel and Robert and wife Angela Dickerson; mother, Lena Welschmeyer (Bret); six grandchildren, Jacob and Grant Bearce, Justin and Cameron Dickerson, and Jacqueline and Zachary Reichel; and her three siblings, Betty, Ron and Lynn Welschmeyer.