Mary Elizabeth (Hanson) Scott, age 75 was lifted into the loving arms of our Heavenly Father on December 23, 2017 in Overland Park, Kansas. Mary was preceded in death by her husband Jerry, her parents Wilfred and Hope Hanson, her sister Donna Young and two nieces. She is survived by her daughter Karin Weiss and husband John of Overland Park, Kansas, son Gary Scott and husband James Fifielski of Dixon, Illinois, son Brian W. Scott of Kansas City, Missouri, and sister Jean Presnell of Kalispell, Montana. Also grandsons: Eric Weiss currently serving in the United States Air Force, Justin Weiss currently working in Texas, Hunter Scott, Keeghan Scott and Gunar Scott of Kansas City, Missouri and great granddaughters Alexandria Weiss, Fallon Weiss and Ella Weiss, and great grandson Braiden Weiss, two nephews, five nieces, and numerous grandnieces and grandnephews.

Mary was born January 27, 1942 in Devil’s Lake, North Dakota. Mary grew up in Whitefish, Montana where she graduated from high school and married her high school sweetheart Jerry Scott in 1960. Following their marriage, they moved to St. Paul, Minnesota where Jerry worked for the Great Northern Railroad and Mary became a homemaker and mother of three children. She worked as a clerk at the South St. Paul Public Library. Mary was a Campfire Girl leader and member of the local Square dance club. In 1983, the railroad transferred her husband to Kansas City. There Mary worked as a clerk for the Johnson County Public Library and graduated from Johnson County Community College with an Associate Degree in Applied Science in 1988. She was employed as a paralegal with Johnson County for ten years in the offices of the Court Trustee and the District Attorney until her early retirement in 1998. During her time as a Kansas paralegal, Mary served as an active board member in the Kansas Paralegal Association. As an avid reader and writer of poetry, she had several published poems in a literary magazine and also a published non-fiction article for the National Paralegal Reporter which targeted non-traditional paralegal roles.

After early retirement from Johnson County, Mary started a second career working for Organized Living, Inc. until 2005. Mary was also a long-time member of a mystery group, Partners in Crime, a local chapter of Sisters in Crime, which encourages female mystery writers. Mary edited fiction for two well-known mystery authors in the KC Metro area, and edited short stories for the local newsletter for several years. She also sang soprano in the Olathe Community Chorus and traveled with this group to an International Chorus Festival in Innsbruck, Austria. A travel lover, Mary also visited Italy, Greece, Turkey and Mexico.

Mary was an Episcopalian and member of St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church in Overland Park, where she sang in the church choir until her health failed. While years of regular church attendance built her a firm foundation, she found daily Christian life both a challenge and a revelation. Her religious awakening and acceptance of Jesus Christ as her savior occurred in 2004 at a Billy Graham Crusade in Kansas City. Her constant faith was passionate and as a Christian, Mary’s goal was to read and understand the Holy Bible, so for several years she held Bible Study at her home with friends. This study brought her knowledge, happiness and sharing. This time prepared her for the eternal life promised to those who believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins. Mary was a Bible Literalist which means she did not accept a watered-down interpretation of the Bible. For several years she authored a daily blog on the Old Testament.

A Celebration of Mary’s life will be held at Saint Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church in Overland Park, Kansas on January 6, 2018 at 2:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, it was Mary’s wish that contributions be made to St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church at 12251 Antioch Rd., Overland Park, Kansas 66213. She will be cremated and laid beside her husband Jerry in Kalispell, Montana at a later date.