Obituary of Mary Lou Wooton
Mary Lou Wootton, 82, of Springfield, passed away at 5:18 p.m. on Sunday, April 7, 2019 at her residence. Mary was born on July 16, 1936 in Chicago, the daughter of Edward D. and Muriel Ewing Martin Teegarden. She married James L. Wootton on June 23, 1956 in Junction, IL.
Mary was raised in southern Illinois. She attended Lockyear’s Business College in Evansville, IN, earning her associate’s degree. She was employed in Chicago for Kimberly Clarke as a clerical worker for two years.
For 28 years, Mary assisted her husband, James, with his career in education administration serving in Korea and China. She worked with the Korean Women’s Missionary Union, teaching English as a second language to Korean women, teaching music to delinquent boys, being a librarian for TCIS, teaching keyboarding, and sharing the Bible.
In Mary’s spare time, she enjoyed singing, sewing, reading, and spending time with her grandchildren. She was involved with the Southern Baptist Church throughout her life.
She was preceded in death by her sons, Joseph Wayne and Mark Dudley Wootton; her daughter, Melissa Ann Phillips; her parents; and one sister, Suzanne Teegarden.
She is survived by her husband of 62 years, James L. Wootton of Springfield; her son, James L. (wife, Jean) Wootton, II of Cortez, CO; three daughters, Pamela “Pam” (husband, Paul) Hickey of St. Charles, MO, Sherry (husband, Doug) Holliday of Greenview, IL, and Natalie (husband, Steve) Holliday of Athens, IL; son-in-law, Doug Phillips of Springfield, IL; grandchildren, James L. (wife, Marla) Wootton III, M.D., Joy Wootton, Gwendolyn Wootton, Charity and Rachel Hickey, Laura (husband, Caleb) Adams, Melinda (husband, Adam) Holler, Sarah (husband, Ray) Hingson, Jared Holliday, Katelyn and Marybeth Holliday; seven (soon to be eight) great-grandchildren; and two siblings, George (wife, Linda) Teegarden and Ritha (husband, Roger) Yates of Carterville, IL.
Visitation: Family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 12, 2019 at Butler Funeral Home—Springfield, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield. An additional visitation will be held from 10:00 until 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, April 13, 2019 at Butler Funeral Home—Springfield.
Funeral Ceremony: 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 13, 2019 at Butler Funeral Home—Springfield with Rev. Donald L. Neisler officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to International Mission Board, 3806 Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA 23230-0767 or the American Heart Association, Greater Midwest Affiliate, Memorials & Tributes, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, IL 60674.
Please visit butlerfuneralhomes.com to offer your condolences.
