Mary Lou Roberts

She was the only child of Arthur and Margie Hill, and lived in this area most of her life. She attended school at John Jay Ingles Grade School, Central Jr High, and later Argentine High School. During her education at Argentine High School, she joined a group called Kleita, with her friend Sherry Dawkins. She lived most of her life in Armourdale. After the flood of 1951 in Amourdale, she and her mother moved in with Opal Rebar and her best friend and classmate, Shirley Garvey, where they lived for 1 ½ years. During her childhood, she attended church 7 days a week with her mom, Margie. Later when her mom married Orville Wallace, they attended Gospel Tabernacle, where he later became the Sr Pastor until his death.

As a teenager, she worked at Klines Department Store, where she developed her love of finer clothes. She always was impeccably dressed and loved wearing her jewelry. She went to school to become a Tomcomnitor and went to work using those skills. She worked various places during her life including Armour Meat Packing, where she met her husband, Charles Roberts. Their marriage ended 29 years later. She worked for Wyandotte County Assessor’s office under F.H. Banks. Her last place of employment was Med James, Inc. an Insurance company writing and selling insurance to several Companies and Individuals, including Lloyds of London. She was Vice President and Secretary Treasurer at Med James, Inc from Feb 1,1976 until Feb 28,1999, when she retired.

Mary Lou was active in The National Association of Insurance Women, holding many offices including Regional President and Vice President while she was employed and helped to manage Med James, an insurance company.

She was active in Score as Chapter Chair in 2003, District Director of Score Kansas City, Chapter 19, Springfield Chapter 61, and Topeka Chapter 342, from 2005 to 2007, and later a counselor helping entrepreneurs with starting up new businesses or growing their current business. She changed her status to Emeritus in 2010, due to the economy.

She enjoyed traveling and had been abroad several times to Europe, Italy, Greece and 5 times to Israel where Gospel Tabernacle had a house, and later an apartment, for the church people that would travel to Israel.

In 2015, she and her cousin, Corie, took a gun handling course and purchased handguns. They would go to the Bullet Hole the last Wed of every month for target practice and then to Costco, for her case of Diet Coke.

She was very active until her hospitalization enjoying attending various groups. She was very loyal in attending her bible study group, Sunday school, and services at Lenexa Baptist Church. She was very proud to show off her son, Kelly and daughter -in-law Pat, when they attended services with her on special holidays.

She enjoyed volunteering at St Andrew Golf Course. She loved to golf also, but her health had limited her ability to do much golfing. She was able to play every other hole 2 weeks before her death and was so excited that she could again play. She loved life. She also enjoyed going to the theatre to watch the latest films, reading, and was always wanting to learn everything she could. She loved to laugh was very witty and knowledgeable.

She took classes to learn how to play bridge was enjoyed her bridge outings at Granite City with her friends. She also was a previous season ticket holder of the Symphony in Kansas City. She was also a current season ticket holder to New Theatre Restaurant and attended with a group of her friends.

In life, as in her impending death, she continued to let her wishes be known to her family. She was a loving mother and mother-in-law (even though she was really my mom) grandmother and friend, and a big void has been left in our lives. She loved coming to our home in Olathe for meals and especially loved my chocolate pie that I always made sure she had. We will miss her terribly but as she adamantly told us, in the hospital, “I want to go home!” And she did, first to her home and then to her heavenly home with Jesus, where we know she is so very happy to be.

She was preceded in death by her Mother, Margie Wallace and father, Arthur Hill, and her Step father, Orville Wallace. She is survived by her only son, Kelly Roberts, and daughter-in-law Pat Roberts of Olathe, 3 grandchildren, 8 Great grandchildren, and 1 Great Great granddaughter, her sister-in-law’s, Pat Spaulding, Emmie Lukish, and Shirley Bennett, all of Houston TX, several cousins, and a many many friends.

Services will by Monday, May 8, 2017 at Lenexa Baptist Church, Lenexa, Ks. Burial will be at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Kansas City, Ks at 701 N 94th St. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations sent in care of Lenexa Baptist Church for a fund to be designated later.