Mrs. Mary Evelyn Wease, 88 years, 10 months and 4 days departed this life, to her home of eternal rest with our Lord, at 12:48 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 9, 2016 at The Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home in Fort Wayne.

Mary Evelyn Wease

On Nov. 5, 1927, Mary was born in Atwood.  She was the cherished daughter of  Roy L and Esther Coral Adams.  Growing up as one of  five children she shared her childhood with two sisters and two brothers.  With great Flyer pride Mary graduated from Akron High School in 1945. The majority of her life was spent in the Kosciusko and Fulton County Communities.

Mary and Delbert “Earl” Cox were married on Nov. 26, 1945 in Akron.  Together they enjoyed more than 28 years of life’s adventures.  From their union came five wonderful children  Martha, Phyllis,  David, Linda and Daniel.  A favorite family memory was taking the kids  to the drive-in movie.  They enjoyed popcorn while staying toasty under the blanket and watching the movie of the day.  In addition to being a mother and wife, Mary kept the books for the family’s farming operation.  Annually a truck-patch garden was planted.  Each fall  the bountiful harvest was frozen and canned by Mary for her family’s winter use.  Sadly at the age of 44,  Earl passed away on Dec. 27, 1973.

In Athens on May 18, 1975, Mary and Paul B. Wease were united in marriage. Blending their families Mary added  three children to the family tree. They shared more than 34 years together until his passing on May 7, 2009. Paul and Mary enjoyed travel and vacations visiting all 48 continental states.

As a public servant, Mary was active in local government.  She served as Deputy Clerk Treasurer for the City of Rochester during Janet Copeland’s tenure.  Many will remember Mary as  a member of the Fulton County Treasurer’s team working with her daughter Phyllis. With a warm smile she was always there to assist friends and answer their questions.   Mary also enjoyed working as a bookkeeper at Candlish Realty, Peru, Fulton’s CO-OP and the Rochester Hallmark.

A woman of strong faith, Mary was a loyal and devoted member of the Liberty Baptist Church.  She served her church a variety of ways including church secretary and treasurer. She enjoyed Bible study groups and Sunday school class.  With a caring heart, as a beacon of light for friends and shut-ins,  Mary shared her faith by making home visits, leading prayer and reading from her Bible.

Gifted with her hands, Mary was an accomplished seamstress making clothing for her children during their years as youth. Sewing dresses for the girls and shirts for the boys was her forte’.  She continued, learning the art of quilting and completing  beautiful gifts of warmth for her children,  grandchildren and special friends.  To relax she watched Gunsmoke, Andy Griffith and westerns on TV.

As the matriarch of the Cox-Wease families, Grandma Mary was quite proud to oversee five generations.  She conducted extensive genealogy-research for the Adams family, enjoying each discovery and family connection.  From her kitchen command post she hosted many holiday events and family celebrations.  Always preparing a fitting feast, no meal was complete without dessert.  She was well known for her made from scratch, New York style cheesecake, made with a graham-cracker crust and Milnot.  She always treasured time spent with her family.  Grandma Mary leaves her family legacy many wonderful memories and gifts, the most prominent is her resilience, spiritual faith and strong work ethic.

Left to cherish Mary’s memory are three daughters:  Martha Rose and husband John of Mentone, Phyllis Biddinger and husband Virgil of Rochester,  Linda King, of Bremen; two sons:  Daniel Cox and wife Joyce of Loveland, CO; David Cox and wife Karen of Plymouth; a step-daughter, Marianne Wease, of Kokomo; two step-sons: Bob Wease, of Peru; Jim Wease  of Hemet, CA; 13 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-granddaughter; 3 step-grandchildren, 7 step-great-grandchildren;  sister: Betty Busch and husband Bob of Syracuse;  brother: William “Bill” Adams and wife Ardith of Rochester; two sisters-in-law: Kathy Adams of Rochester, Geneva Wease of Bloomington;  one brother-in-law: Wendell Wease and wife Twila of Mitchell and several nieces and nephews.  Preceding Mary in death are her parents and husbands Earl and Paul, a  sister, Beatrice “Bea” Gordon and a brother, James Adams.

A celebration of the life of Mary Evelyn Wease will be at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016 in the Good Family Funeral Home, 1200 West 18^th St., Rochester with Pastor Bill McSpadden officiating.  Friends may visit with the family from 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016 and one hour prior to the service in the funeral home.  Interment will be in the Athens Hoover Cemetery.  Memorials may be made to Liberty Baptist Church, 2089 Liberty Road, Rochester, IN, 46975 or to Visiting Nurse &  Hospice Home, 5910 Homestead Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46814.