Mary Allene (Bowling) Ayres, 89 years old, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, and her beloved husband of 59 years on Saturday, April 26, 2014. Mary was born July 27, 1924, near Wynnewood, OK. She married the love of her life, Willard Edward Ayres, in Tempe, AZ on May 6, 1945. Mary was grace personified. She sacrificed of herself in so many ways, always gladly, always without a second thought for her own discomfort. She was an extremely devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her love for her family came second only to her love for her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She was a member of Friendship Southern Baptist Church of Marshfield, MO. She was an avid doll collector and enjoyed making baby quilts for her great-grandchildren. No meal for Mary's family was ever complete without her made-from-scratch, there-is-no-recipe yeast biscuits. There is no way to put on paper so that people who didn't know her could ever understand all that she was. Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Willard Edward Ayres; parents, John Perry and Viola Bowling; brothers, George and Roy Bowling; sisters, Forthie (Bowling) Hobbs, Johnnie (Bowling) Bridges, Jo (Bowling) Herriage, Clara (Bowling) Tucker, Viola (Bridges) Argambright; and daughter-in-law, Donna Ayres. Mary is survived by her four children, three sons, Kenny Ayres, and wife Janet of Stockton, MO; Perry Ayres of Pleasant Hope, MO, and Kay Mason; Charles (Abe) Ayres of Walnut Grove, MO, and Kathy Gold; and one daughter, Retha Bateman, and husband Junior Bateman of Marshfield, MO. She is survived by her sister, Clemmie (Bowling) McGarr of Duncan, OK; nine grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and four great great-grandchildren whom she so dearly adored. In addition, Mary is survived by countless other cherished family and friends. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 30, 2014 in Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, 1947 East Seminole, Springfield, MO with Reverend Steve Masterson officiating. Burial will follow in Missouri Veterans Cemetery near Hwy 65 and Evans Road. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, 2014 in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to HPC Hospice and Palliative Care of Springfield.