Mary Sue Hemmel (Brown)

Mary Sue Hemmel, 101, passed into eternal life at John Knox Village, Lee’s Summit, MO. January 20, 2020. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at Our Lady of the Presentation Catholic Church, 130 NW Murray Rd., Lee’s Summit, MO. 64081. A visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m. will precede services at the church. Committal service will follow at 3:30 p.m. at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery, Jefferson City, MO. Mary Sue was the second of six children born to Opal Vest Brown and Teresa Hughes Brown on August 12, 1918, in Bowling Green, MO. She was an honor student in her studies, graduating from Wellsville High School in 1935 as a Senior Queen who lettered in basketball and participated in dramatics. Upon completion of accelerated courses in Commercial Training in Omaha, NE, she enjoyed secretarial duties at the Wellsville Fire Brick Company. She moved with her family to Jefferson City, MO in 1937, where she was employed by the Oberman Company for 2 years prior to accepting work under the State Merit System at Missouri Employment Security. Mary Sue was married to Arthur H. Hemmel at St. Peter’s Church on August 25, 1941. With the exception of three years military service in WWII in Washington D.C. and Philadelphia, PA their life was spent in Central Missouri, with retirement in 1980 at Oaklake, their country home in Fulton, MO. To this union four children were born: David Lee, Suzanne, Arthur Stephen, and Mary Lisa. Mary Sue had an eye for fashion design, fabric choice, along with seamstress skills and patience to persevere for a perfect result. Fashion intrigued her from an early age, rewarding her with top honors in seamstress competitions. Her family benefited from that talent along with other creative projects. Mary Sue was an active parent, a lifelong devout Catholic, involved in her church, Knights of Columbus Auxiliary, and school organizations. She enjoyed dancing with her husband Art all their married life. During her children’s college, she worked in state government, in the office of Governor Hearnes, eight years and in the Missouri Senate and House of Representatives a number of sessions. She will be remembered for her faithful dedication to her parents, her family and church. She attributes her long life to her faith in God. Mary Sue is survived by her children David Lee, now residing in Key West, FL., Suzanne H. Norfleet, of Oklahoma City, OK, Arthur Stephen (wife, Ann Marie) of Fenton, MO. Other survivors include 5 grandsons, 2 granddaughters, and 15 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Arthur Hemmel in 1996, daughter Mary Lisa Revelle in 1994, brothers Thomas Leon Brown, John Hughes Brown, sisters Catherine Teresa Brown, Dorothy Ann Brown, and Rose Marie Schell. Memorial contribution may be made to Our Lady of the Presentation Catholic Church or charity of choice.