Mary Ellen (Francis) Bunselmeyer went to her heavenly reward on October 30, 2013 surrounded by her family. She was born September 18, 1927, to John Franklin and Iva Francis in Marshfield, Missouri. The youngest of four children and the only girl, Mary Ellen was gifted by God with a beautiful singing voice and music played an important role in her entire life. Mary was involved in church choir, and later loved to attend her grandchildren's school band and choir concerts. Mary graduated from Deaconess Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri with a nursing degree. She married William (Bill) Bunselmeyer on July 3, 1948. They had three children, Karen, Karl, and John. Mary was a devoted wife and mother; Sunday dinner at "Nanny and Papa's house" was a family tradition, usually including made-from-scratch dinner rolls. She loved to baby sit the grandchildren and had a special relationship with each of them, praying for both her children and grandchildren every day. Other things Mary loved were the roses she grew in the yard, her regular bridge games with friends, and baseball. (Both professional and her grandchildren's games) She was involved in the Women's Missionary Union at University Heights Baptist Church. Mary inherited a love of cats from her father, who always had a cat on his lap. The family nearly always included a cat or two. Her cat, Chipper gave her companionship and comfort after Bill became ill. Mary stayed in touch with her nursing school roommates Maybelle, mer, and Ginny and they enjoyed many vacations on Hilton Head Island together with their husbands over the years. Bill passed away three years ago this December. Mary has missed him terribly since the day that he left and wished for the time when she could join him. Besides Bill, Mary was preceded in death by her parents, J.F. and Iva Francis, and two of her brothers, John Franklin Francis Jr. and William Francis. Her surviving brother Rex Francis along with his wife Betty, reside in Owasso, Oklahoma. She is survived by her children, Karen Garwitz and husband Gary, Karl Bunselmeyer and wife Joye, John Bunselmeyer and wife Barbara, all of Springfield. Her grandchildren, Benjamin Garwitz and wife Kimberly of Springfield, Andrew Garwitz and wife Eva of Honolulu, Hawaii, Joshua Benselmeyer in college in St. Louis, Missouri, Caleb Bunselmeyer in college in Chicago, Illinios, Emma Bunselmeyer of Springfield, Amy Bunselmeyer in college in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Ryan Bunselmeyer in college in Kirksville, Missouri. Also surviving Mary are her two great-grandchildren, William Garwitz of Springfield and Isabella Garwitz of Honolulu, Hawaii. Sister-in-law, Sara Bunselmeyer of Denton, Texas, along with nieces and nephews in Missouri and Texas also survive. Visitation will be held Friday, November 8 from 6:00 to 8:00 at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, 1947 East Seminole in Springfield. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 9 at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering in memory of Mary Bunselmeyer in care of Second Baptist Church 3111 E. Battlefield, Springfield, MO 65804. Mary's final resting place will be in Eastlawn Cemetery next to Bill, the love of her life. The family would like to thank the nursing staff at Quail Creek for their loving care and attention to, not only Mary, but to the family as well, in her final weeks. A big thank you to Dr. Fernando Cavero for his time, honesty and patience and to the staff of Good Shepherd Hospice for all that they did to make Mary's last days on earth as comfortable as possible.