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Mary Herndon Obituary

Mary Elizabeth "Mary Lee" Herndon

85, of Springfield, IL, died Wednesday, March 6 at home. She was born October 27, 1927 in Indianapolis, IN, the daughter of James Layman and Katherine Turman Schell. She married Richard F. Herndon, M.D. in 1948; he died in 2001. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Sarah Schell Ferriday, in 1998.

Mrs. Herndon attended Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA, and graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. She worked for the Chicago Tribune and was a substitute teacher in Springfield. Mrs. Herndon was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, the Progress Circle of the King's Daughters Home, the Anti-Rust Society of Springfield, and the Junior League. She volunteered for the Springfield Art Association, the food pantry at the First Presbyterian Church, and served as a volunteer guide for the Executive Mansion and the Old State Capitol. Mrs. Herndon enjoyed classical music and jazz. She was a Chicago White Sox fan and an avid traveler.

Survivors: son, Richard F. (wife Carol) Herndon of Springfield; three daughters, Mary Katharine (husband Carl) Buenger of Nekoosa, WI, Elizabeth (husband Geoffrey) Beckwith of Tucson, AZ, Sarah Maria (husband Rahul) Bonner of New York, NY; four grandchildren; two sisters, Susan Henderson of Carmel, IN, and Katharine Kimbriel of Tucson, AZ; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorial Service: 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 23, 2013, First Presbyterian Church in Springfield, the Rev. Dr. Clifford J. Hayes officiating. Private cremation rites will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery at a later date. Boardman-Smith Funeral Chapel in Springfield is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Central Illinois Food Bank, Doctors Without Borders, the First Presbyterian Church of Springfield, or Project A.L.S.

Sign her online guest book at http://www.boardman-smith.net.

Published by The Indianapolis Star on Mar. 10, 2013.
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Memories and Condolences
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Aunt Mary Lee will be greatly missed by all of our families. She gave all of us such knowledge of all the places she traveled with Uncle Dick. The best memories will be of all the years the sisters and families spent in Pentwater MI each summer in the past and future as we continue to be very close family. Much Love and give our hugs to those who preceded you.

Karen Kimbriel

March 17, 2013

My Deepest Sympathy to the Herndon Family with the loss of Lovely Mary Lee. May your lifetime of special memories shared with your Mother, Grandmother, Sister and Friend sustain each of you through the days ahead. Blessings,

Donna Catlin

March 9, 2013

Our sympathies to the family.
Mary Lee was special woman who gave so much to our community.
May your special memories give you comfort at this time.
Ann and Dick Hart

Ann Hart

March 8, 2013

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Boardman-Smith Funeral Home

800 S. Grand Ave. West, Springfield, IL 62704

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