Mary Elizabeth Benes 1924 – 2022 Mary E. Benes was born in Missouri on December 6, 1924 and passed away at Bethany House on August 10, 2022 at the age of 97. Mary graduated Ironton High School in Ironton, MO in 1942 and attended Nurses Training at St. Louis City Hospital in St. Louis, MO; she also graduated with a B. S. in Nursing from the College of Saint Francis in Joliet, IL in 1979. Mary started her nursing career at St. Louis City Hospital upon graduating from nurses training and remained there until the early 50's when she stopped working to raise a family. From 1960 to 1995, Mary continued her career as a nurse, nurse instructor, and supervisor with a career that includes stops at Stephens College Clinic, Columbia, MO, Saint Mary's Hospital, Clayton, MO, and St. John's Mercy Hospital in Washington, MO. Mary lived for 3 years in Memphis, TN before moving to Auburn, AL in May of 2021 to be near her son, Philip and granddaughter Victoria. Mary's passion was reading. From the time she learned to read as a little girl until shortly before her death at 97 years old, she spent most of her leisure time curled up with a good book. She especially enjoyed Christian and historical novels. Mary was a committed follower of Jesus Christ and that trait was easily recognized in her kind, gentle, and friendly demeanor. She will be missed by all who knew her. Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Benes, whom she married in November of 1948; son, Steven and daughter in law Kathy; daughter in law Nancy; parents, Everett and Virgie Vickery; two brothers: Charles Vickery and Robert Vickery. She is survived by her children, Mark Benes (Mary), Tulsa, OK, Philip Benes, Auburn, AL, and Carol Buzolich (Paul), Boliva, NC. She is also survived by sisters, Virginia White, Ironton, MO, and Carol Jean Rinehart, St. Louis, MO, and her brother James Vickery, Ironton, MO. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held Wednesday, August 17, 2022 in the Parlor at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home from 6-8pm. Graveside service will be held at Town Creek Cemetery in Auburn, AL on August 18, 2022 at 10 am.