Mary L. (Knebel) Harper, 82, died February 3, 2015, at Garden Terrace in Overland Park, Kansas. She was born January 2, 1933, in Breese, Illinois, to Victor J. Hummert and Bertha (Sartory) Hummert. Mary grew up in Breese, graduating from Notre Dame Academy, Belleville, Illinois. She studied at Webster College in St. Louis, before marrying Thomas J. Knebel, and settling in Highland, Illinois where she was a full time mother for her five children, Karen, Vicki, Beth, Tom and Mary Jo. After a couple of moves (1965 – 1969), the family settled in Kansas City, Mo. Living in Menomenee Falls, Wisconsin (1967-1969) opened Mary’s eyes to the world of politics and social justice, at the height of the civil rights movement. She made dear friends in that brief time and her passion for social justice and political activism never waned after that. Mary befriended many in the civil rights movement in Kansas City, and became known as an activist and a rebel, working for peace and against nuclear weapons. She worked in the creative library at Hallmark Cards for many years. She herself was an avid reader and lover of the arts. Mary remained committed to her Catholic faith, supportive of the more activist work highlighted in the National Catholic Reporter. After many years as a single mother following her divorce in 1972, she met, and, in 2001, married Nelson Harper, of Columbus, Ohio. They lived for a few years in Lawrence, KS where they enjoyed spending time on their pontoon boat on Perry Lake and visiting with children and grandchildren.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Nelson, her parents, her brothers, Henry, Richard, Robert, Thomas, her sister Celeste, and her youngest daughter Mary Jo. She is survived by her daughters Karen Brooks (Harold), Vicki Davis, Beth Callstrom (Randy), all of Kansas City, and her son, Tom Knebel (Susan), of Louisville, KY, her granddaughters, Katherine Davis, Clara Davis, Stephanie Warren, Amber Abrams, Lauren Cook, Rebecca Callstrom, and her grandsons Ian Davis and Dane Callstrom. She is also survived by her sister, Kathryn Timmerman of Breese, Illinois and her family, and her brother, Victor Hummert (Rose) of Lafayette, LA. She is also survived by the children of Nelson Harper, Donice Wooster (Burdette) and Nelson O. Harper (Nolan Long) of Columbus, OH.
Visitation is Friday, March 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m., McGilley & Hoge, 8024 Santa Fe Drive, Overland Park, KS. Memorial Service is at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 21, St. Peter’s Church, 815 East Meyer, Kansas City, MO. Donations in memory of Mary Harper may be made to PeaceWorks-KC, the Human Rights Watch HRW.org, the Environmental Defense Fund www.edf.org, Alzheimer’s Association www.alz.org
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