Mary E. Ewing, 98, of rural Hiawatha, died Wednesday morning, September 25, 2019, at Maple Heights Nursing Center.

Mary Elizabeth Pyle was born April 13, 1921 at home in Hamlin, Kansas to Frank and Ruth (Kern) Pyle.  Mary was born on her father’s birthday.  Mary Elizabeth rode her horses to Mulberry Grade School, which she attended eight years.  She attended Hamlin High School and graduated in 1939.  Again, she rode her horse for 2 years and then rode in a car the last two years with a neighbor.  She played on the girl’s basketball and softball teams, played trumpet, and sang in the glee club while in high school.  Mary attended Kansas State University for one year.  On March 6, 1941 she married Edward Ewing. They lived on a farm south of Padonia, KS for most of her life. First, in a 3 room house which was just north of the present house.

Throughout her life, Mary Ewing taught Sunday School classes for children of all ages.  She taught nursery school in Hamlin Baptist Church for several years.  After joining the Padonia Methodist Church, she taught high school age Sunday school classes.  She joined the Methodist Church in Hiawatha in 1965 where she taught 7th and 8th grade Sunday school classes.

Mary was active in both church and community clubs and activities.  Mary was a charter member of the Padonia PEP unit and held most of the offices in the Methodist Woman’s Society of Christian Services.  She also assisted in the making of the Padonia Cook book.  She assisted in her children’s school activities where she was a member of the Kitchen Quarterback Club at Hiawatha High School, a group formed to teach mothers about football and as a chaperone at many of her children’s school activities.

For many years, Mary worked in Hiawatha at Bierer’s clothing store, A & B Fabrics, WW Shoes, and the KSU Extension office.

Mary loved gardening and annually filled her freezer with produce from her garden.  She also loved her kittens and was still talking about the kittens who followed her to the milk house and garden.  Mary seldom spent a day without a needle in her hand.  She was an accomplished seamstress and quilter having made over 30 quilts by hand.

Left to cherish her memory are two sons, Jim (Debra) and Larry (Beverly) of Hiawatha and one daughter, Martha, of Holt, MI., and 6 grandchildren and 4 step grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren  and 14 great step grandchildren.  In addition, she is survived by her sister, Rachel Sanner of Waterville, KS, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a brother and sister-in-law (Dewey and Donna Pyle), brother-in-law (Russell Sanner) and daughters-in-law, Anita Ewing and Paula  Ewing.

Services will be held at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, Monday, September 30, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. with visitation one hour prior to services.  Friends may call at the funeral home after 12 noon until 6 Sunday afternoon.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that memorials be given to Brown County Historical Society, in care of the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, 124 S. 7h Street, Hiawatha, KS  66434.

A special message or remembrance may be sent to www.chapeloaksfuneralhomecom