Mary Louise Lloyd

Mary Louise (Fisher) Lloyd, 96, of Liberal, Kansas passed away on Thursday August 15, 2024. She was born June 10, 1928 in Wichita, Kansas, the daughter of Herbert and Helen Fisher.

Mary married Dallas D. Lloyd December 11, 1946 in Wichita, Kansas. Their photographer’s camera broke so she only had two pictures from their wedding day. 

Mary liked to stay busy. When Dallas retired, she took a job at Walmart that lasted over 30 years. If you ever called Walmart you probably talked to Mary. She retired at 90.

Raising her 5 children was Mary’s passion. All were born in Wichita and had the same kindergarten teacher. She and Dallas sacrificed so much to raise them and ensure they were educated. All of her children went to college, but Mary never finished high school. With her parent’s divorce, she had to quit school her Junior year and work to help make ends meet.

At the age of 85, she went to Liberal’s Adult Learning Center and received her GED. She was the speaker at the graduation ceremony in December with wild cheers from family and friends. She is still the oldest student in Liberal to have accomplished this. The U.S. Secretary of Education recognized her with a large coin/medallion in recognition of her lifelong love of learning.

Mary was very musical. She played violin first and then piano and organ. Keeping her violin fresh, she joined her youngest daughter, Kaylene, and played next to her in the high school orchestra. When she moved to Liberal, she also played some with the Seward County Junior college.

Mary also liked to sew. With five children, sewing for her girls was a given. One time when the sewing machine broke, she hand-finished sewing together Marlene’s prom dress. However, at the age of 80, she took up quilting. As many quilters, she had more projects than she could ever finish. With her daughter; Marietta’s help, she made sure all her material ended up in productive hands. 

Dallas preceded Mary in death after 61 years of marriage on December 28, 2007. Also preceding her in death are her sons, Michel Dean Layne Lloyd and Mark Duane Lloyd.

Surviving are Marietta and David Gray of Wichita, Marlene and Joel Stanton of Liberal, and Kaylene and Dick Westbrook of Bartlesville, OK. Her deceased son Layne gave her a granddaughter, Kimberley of Los Angeles, CA. Her deceased son, Mark gave her three grandsons, Eric and Laura of Overland Park, Jackson of McPherson and Nathan of McPherson. 

Funeral Services will be 11:00 am Monday, August 19, 2024 at the Miller Mortuary Chapel .Viewing will precede the service at 10:30 am

Burial will be at Rest Haven Cemetery in Wichita at 11:30 am Tuesday, August 20, 2024.