Mary Elizabeth White Roehrs

Mary Elizabeth White Roehrs went home to be with her Heavenly Father at 2:45 A.M. on Wednesday, May 18th, 2016. Mary was born to Alfred Levi White and Katherine Martha (Hayden) White, one of four children, on December 3, 1926. She attended Grier School east of Monmouth for eight years, having the same teacher, Miss Edith Gillespie, for the first seven years. As a young girl, Mary became an accomplished pianist, taking lessons at Monmouth College under the direction of Miss Riggs. After graduating from Monmouth High School, Mary worked as secretary to the Vice President of Illinois Bankers Life Insurance Company at its main office in downtown Monmouth. Following several years of working at Bankers Life, she married Wilbur F. Roehrs on January 14th, 1946, and became a farmer's wife. They started farming east of Monmouth and then moved to the Belmont Community, where they took an active part in church and community activities. Later, moving to a farm north of Monmouth, Mary continued to be involved in area church and school activities, first at Law School, north of Monmouth, and later in the newly consolidated Warren School District. In the local schools, she was actively involved in Parent-Teacher activities and adult education classes. She served on the committee that was responsible for choose a mascot for Warren School, the Warren "Warriors", and their school newspaper, "The Signal". In church activities, Mary taught Sunday School, Junior Church, and was active in missions, often hosting furloughed missionaries in her home. She also offered a summer host home to interning ministers. Always appreciating music, she played for church cantatas, as well as accompanying soloists, always encouraging others to develop their musical abilities. Currently a member of the First Christian Church in Monmouth, Mary was active in the church's Lamplighters Sunday School class. When Mary heard about the non-denominational Christian women's organization, Stonecroft, she became instrumental in organizing a local branch of Christian Women's Club, not only entertaining Stonecroft staff in her home, but also visiting the Stonecroft headquarters in Kansas City. Although she participated in local community activities, Mary's main goal was working with Wilbur, her husband of 59 years. Together they fulfilled their dream of having a farming operation and raising three daughters, Mary Frances, Karen, and Melissa. Mary also cared for her aging parents and provided a home for several years for grandchildren. Her homemaking and farm wife skills were her contributions to the life she and Wilbur enjoyed building together. After raising her family and being a farm wife for many years, Mary decided, rather than retire, she would renew her secretarial skills and was employed as secretary for Lutheran Social Services of Illinois in Galesburg for a number of years. Mary has left her three daughters, as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren, to cherish her memory.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 21, 2016, at Turnbull Funeral Home in Monmouth. Visitation is planned from 9:00-10:00 A.M. prior to the service. Interment will follow the service at Warren County Memorial Park in Monmouth, IL. Memorials in Mary's honor may be made to the Galesburg Rescue Mission or to the local Christian radio station, WDLM. For more information, or to leave a condolence, please visit www.turnbullfuneralhomes.com.