Mary Pelts

Mary Lee Jamison Pelts, 94, of Cape Girardeau departed this life Sunday, February 14, 2021, at her home with her daughter at her bedside.

Mary was born April 29, 1926 in Belleview, Missouri, daughter to John and Allie Jamison.

She married Gevell "Kelly" Pelts in 1949 in Columbia, Missouri.

Mary attended schools in Lesterville and Jefferson City, Missouri, and Washington, D.C., and graduated from the Cape Girardeau Business School.

She retired from Southeast Missouri State University, where she served as fringe benefits manager. After retiring, she operated her own business, Pelts Healthcare, for several years.

Mary was a member of St. Andrew Lutheran Church. She held offices in the Elderberries Senior Group and was a participant in Christ Care.

Mary's children were always her top priority, and she loved spending time with them and her grandchildren. She was an avid writer and enjoyed conveying her experiences in journals over the years. Mary had a dry wit, which made her entries interesting and amusing. She authored a booklet recalling her experiences as a "Government Girl" in Washington, D.C., during World War II. In 1995, she traveled to Europe to attend the 50th anniversary celebration of V-E Day, the victory over Nazi Germany. She also visited several sites in Europe where important WWII events took place. She always said that trip was one of the highlights of her life.

Mary was always interested in learning and was a member of and held offices in the Evening Toastmasters and the Ozark Society. She also enjoyed getting together with her good friends, Anita Dickerson and Gayle Hendrix (known as the Friday Night Girls), to eat out several times a week and to meet at her apartment for dinner and a movie or card game.

Survivors include a daughter Regina (Larry) McElroy of Cape Girardeau; four grandchildren, Josh (Misti) McElroy of Dudley, Missouri; Angela O'Connor of St. Louis; Sarah Pyeatte of Cape Girardeau; and Mandi Plummer of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and seven great-grandchildren, Madilyn and Keegan McElroy, Mason O'Connor and Brinleigh Wallingford, Jamison Pyeatte, and Tristen and Shelbi Plummer; and several nieces and nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two sons, D. Kelly and F. Jamison Pelts; three brothers, James, Melvin and John Jamison; five sisters, Mildred Rayfield, Freeda Dennison, Norma Jean Jamison, Maxine Jamison and Betty Pinkly.

Due to the COVID-19 virus, a private family funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, with visitation at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Perryville, Missouri.

Memorials may be made to St. Andrew Lutheran Church or the Cape Senior Center.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the Saint Francis Hospice nurses and aides.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences may be shared at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.