Mary Virginia Clark Saxton, 90, died Dec. 16, at Kingswood Health Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

Officiating at a graveside service will be the Rev. Gary Longstaff at Mineral Creek Cemetery in Leeton, Missouri, at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21.

Mary was born April 1, 1927, in Lincoln, Nebraska, the eldest daughter of Howard Lindell and Cara Velma (Cox) Clark. She was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart, Melvin Dean Saxton, on Aug. 31, 1947, and from this union four children were born.

Mary was a teacher – elementary and high school – and taught for the past 31 years at Draughn Business College and Vatterot College. Mary mentored co-workers and students to foster their professional and personal growth while building strong bonds, mutual respect and admiration with her colleagues.

Mary graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1949 and continued to expand her knowledge throughout her life. She was a longtime member of the First Baptist church in Springfield, Missouri. When her health no longer permitted, she attended Hopedale Baptist Church in Ozark, Missouri.

Mary is survived by two daughters and one son, Karen and Paul (Faucher), of Leawood, Kansas; Nancy and Dale (Murrell), of Newport, Tennessee; and Bill, of Springfield; two brothers, Dwight Clark, of Spring Branch, Texas; and Dee and Jane Clark, of Overland Park, Kansas; one sister, Dorothy Thomason, of Warrensburg, Missouri; sister-in-law, Ilene Chisom Saxton, of Kansas City; grandchildren, Kristin and Peter (Sicher), of New York City; Katherine and Christopher (Hillis), of Dallas, Texas; Robert Dean Murrell, Celeste Murrell, and Bobby Dee Murrell of Newport, Tennessee; Nicole and Nolan (Longstaff), of Willard, Missouri; Samantha Saxton, of Springfield; and Shane Saxton, of Pheonix, Arizona; five great-grandchildren, Madison Kay and Avery Anne Murrell, Landon Robert Scott Longstaff, William Paul Sicher, and Aurora Leann Proffite; several nieces and nephews, many dear and caring relatives, friends and co-workers.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and one son, Paul Lyle Saxton.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the American Cancer Society and can be left in care of Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home.