Mary Katherine Stone

Mary Stone, age 73, recently of Peoria/Sun City West, AZ and formerly of Huntley, IL, died

surrounded by love on January 25, 2026 due to the progression of dementia. Her family was

with her every day in her final weeks to shower her with memories, soothing words, song, and

her favorite books. Mary was born in West Bend, WI before her family moved to Geneva, IL.

She attended Mount St Mary's in St Charles and then University of Wisconsin-Platteville, where

she met a group of ladies that would stay her closest friends and confidants for over 50 years.

A lover of horses, she moved to Madison after college and worked as a counselor on a horse

ranch. Mary eventually moved back to Illinois with her family and kept a small farmette with

two horses for a short time in Huntley, IL. During moves to Hampshire, IL and Belvidere, IL, she

began the next chapter of her career in insurance, working as a claims adjuster, insurance

agent, inspector, and appraiser. She later became certified as a Federal Investigator for the US

Office of Personnel Management and thrived in this career until her retirement. Because of her

work driving all over the Chicagoland area for her various careers, Mary knew how to navigate

her way through what seemed like every city in the area – using paper maps and written

directions before GPS (ask her daughters about how they got their sense of direction). Mary

relocated to Glendale, AZ in 2022 to be closer to the rest of her family who had already

migrated out to sunnier skies and was able to spend her final years close to her two favorite

people in the world - her brother and sister. Mary was an avid reader who would read the

encyclopedia for fun, and she kept a small collection of antique books that she cherished. She

enjoyed watching Jeopardy, listening to music, and gardening. Strong and independent, she

was a loving mother, daughter, grandmother, and sister.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Skip and Fay Stone. She is survived by her brother

James (Cathie) Stone of Sun City West, AZ, sister Nancy (Randy) Schairer of Peoria, AZ, daughter

Sara (Christian) DuFour of Fountain Hills, AZ, and daughter Jessica Beckman of St Petersburg, FL.

She will be missed by granddaughters Jade and Reagan DuFour, nephew Derek Schairer, niece

Jacey (Cody) Janes, and grandnieces Selah and Siena Janes. She also has loving cousins and

former in-laws that remember her fondly.

An informal visitation and gathering will be held on Sunday, February 1 st from 3pm-4pm at Best

Funeral Services, West Valley Chapel in Peoria, AZ for friends who wish to pay their respects.

Burial will be private. Flowers and cards are welcome, or donations can be made to the Salt

River Wild Horse Management Group.