Marianna (Mary) Zabek passed away on June 23, 2012 following a long and courageous battle with cancer. Mary was born on February 29, 1936. As a leap year baby, Mary liked to remind her friends and family she was still technically a teenager. She was born in Kansas City, Missouri to Dr. J. Briggs Rice and Oma J. Rice. She graduated from Smith-Cotton High School in 1954 and matriculated to Central Missouri State College. After earning a degree in education, Mary taught English and social studies at Raytown South Junior High School in Raytown, Missouri. She married Dr. Walter J. Zabek in 1963. Walter and Mary moved to Springfield, Missouri in 1964, where Mary taught at Parkview High School and Walt was an oral and maxillofacial surgeon until his retirement in 2008. Mary was very active in the Springfield community. In addition to belonging to many clubs and social organizations, including Highland Springs Country Club, Mary enjoyed her many bridge and investment club gatherings. She also believed in giving back to the community by serving on numerous charitable and civic boards. Mary served on the Board of Public Utilities as Secretary, and on the City Utilities Citizens' Advisory Council, and as President of the Southwest Missouri Museum Associates, as well as devoting herself to P.E.O. Sisterhood, the Springfield Public School Picture Lady Program, Welcome Wagon, and other charitable and civic causes. She also worked as a travel agent at Great Southern Travel for 17 years. During these years, she acquired a love of travel, which she passed on to the rest of her family. In addition to traveling extensively throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Europe, Mary traveled to China, Russia, Egypt and Australia. Mary will be remembered for her spirit of adventure, as well as her generosity and gracious hospitality. Mary is survived by her husband of 49 years. She is also survived by her daughter, Mary K. (Kathy) Rapp of Willard, Missouri; her son, James W. Zabek and his wife, Shelly R. Zabek and their daughters, Samantha and Alexandria of Charlottesville, Virginia; her daughter, Amy L. Lyons and her husband, Aaron P. Lyons and their son, Briggs of Springfield, Missouri; her brother James B. Rice, Jr.; and her nephew and niece, Dr. James B. Rice, III and Cynthia L. Helmig, and their mother Carolyn R. Rice. Services will be held on Friday, June 29, 2012 at 4 pm in King's Way United Methodist Church located at 2401 South Lone Pine, in Springfield, Missouri. The family would like to thank Dr. Teresa A. Olsen for her outstanding and compassionate care. Memorial donations may be made to the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri, the Susan G. Komen Foundation or King's Way United Methodist Church.