Mary Elizabeth (Cole) Boatright

Mary Boatright, 90, died peacefully in her home at Brookdale Living Center on Saturday, July 6, 2019.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, July 10, 2019 at the First Presbyterian Church with Pastor Deb Schmidt officiating. Burial will be at the Prairie Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday, July 9, 2019 from 9:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M., no family night is scheduled. A memorial has been established with the First Presbyterian Church of Wellington and may be left with the Shelley Family Funeral Home 704 N. Washington, Wellington, KS 67152.   

Mary Boatright, the eldest of five children, was born on April 7, 1929 in Kansas City, MO to Samuel Warren & Jean Elizabeth (Orr) Cole. Her family moved to Beggs, OK where she grew up and graduated from Beggs High School with the Class of 1947. During her teen years in Beggs, Mary and her brother Warren helped their father build the neon signs he sold. She later taught her younger sisters how to blow glass before she left for college in Coffeyville.

Mary attended Coffeyville Junior College and the University of Kansas where she received her bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts/Fashion Merchandising. She met Lawrence Boatright while working in Coffeyville. They were married on September 19, 1954 in Danforth Chapel on the campus of the University of Kansas. They lived in Coffeyville where their two older daughters were born. They moved to Wellington in October 1957 for Lawrence to open his CPA office in the building now housing the Food Bank. Their twin daughter and son joined the family in 1959. They moved his practice to 207 N. Washington during 1964. Mary worked alongside her husband for over 40 years until his death in December 2000. She and two of her children kept the business, Boatright Accounting, open one more tax season until she sold it to its current owner.

Mary was an active member of our community with her involvement with Soroptimists and Women of Wellington serving in many roles; the First Presbyterian Church serving as an elder, deacon, trustee, chairman for pastoral search & fellowship committees; and in many other civic, political and sports activities with her husband and four children. Mary served several terms as precinct woman; a member of the Wellington Chamber enjoying many Chamber Coffees to stay involved with what was going on in town; parent for Swim Team, Little League Football and PTA. Mary & Lawrence could be seen most evenings taking their late evening walks downtown or driving around town to check  out any new construction projects. They also enjoyed their KU Jayhawk season tickets by taking their children and friends to see many years of football games.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband Lawrence of 46 years, son Craig Boatright and brother Warren Cole.

Mary is survived by her daughters: Nancy Staley (Ed) of Wellington, Janet Shockley (Dennis) of Edmond, OK and Brenda Sniezek (Robert, Jr) of Prairie Village, KS; sisters: Beverly Shelton and Carolyn Breazeale of Austin, TX; brother James Cole (Joyce) of Abilene, TX; sister-in-law Bernice Collier of Traverse City, MI; grandchildren: Charles Staley (Amanda) of Austin, TX; Nicole Eldridge (Tyson) and Julia Staley of Wellington; Kimberly Titus (Dustin) of New Port Richey, FL; William Staley (Brittany) of Fort Collins, CO; Mark Shockley (Beth); Madeline Sniezek of Chicago, IL; Mary Sniezek of New York City, NY; Henry Sniezek, Martha Sniezek and Helen Sniezek of Prairie Village, KS; 15 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

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