Mary Margaret Quinn Fry, 85, passed away at home surrounded by family on August 8, 2024, following a brief illness. Mary was born in Springfield, Missouri, on March 1, 1939, to Frances and Robert Quinn. She began school at Rountree Elementary and St. de Chantal Academy of Visitation, located in the Elfindale Mansion, then attended and graduated from St. Agnes Cathedral School in 1956, where she was a cheerleader and excellent student.

Mary graduated from Drury College in 1960 and was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority, a cheerleader, and majored in French Education with a minor in Spanish.  Upon graduation, Mary moved with several friends to Kansas City and taught French in Shawnee Mission, KS. In 1962, she returned to Springfield and married Ancel Fry, with whom she had two children, Allison and Timothy.

She returned to teaching at Glendale High School as a Spanish teacher, and she was a beloved and impactful teacher for many years. Her trips to Mexico and Spain were highly popular with students, and she sponsored AFSI, the Foreign Language Club. Mary was an advocate for foreign language and worked with a number of exchange students, ensuring their experience in the U.S. was the best it could be.  She received her master's in education from Missouri State University and was eventually promoted to Curriculum Coordinator for Foreign Language and other disciplines for SPS. She mentored many younger teachers in her time as a teacher and administrator.

Upon retirement in 2011, Mary could fully explore two of her true loves: spending time with her grandchildren and traveling.  Mary, known as Mimi to her grandchildren, never missed a game, event, or performance. If Samantha or Quinn was there, so was Mimi! She also introduced her grandchildren to her passion for travel, most recently with trips to Paris.

Mary was a loyal, thoughtful friend to all who knew her, from her beloved "Sewing Club" to her travel companions. She was incredibly smart, witty, and caring.  Her memory was so strong and vivid that her friends described her as a "walking historian." Mary loved traveling the U.S. and the world. She also loved spending time and entertaining in her beautiful home, which was decorated with special treasures from her travels. Her patio and lush gardens were her "happy places." She had a true green thumb and took great pride in her many plants and flowers.

Mary was a member of the Springfield Sister Cities Association, Chapter E.R. of P.E.O, the Junior League of Springfield, Saint Agnes Cathedral, and the Glendale Friends Dinner Group.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Frances and Robert Quinn, and her friend Joe Bohrer. She is survived by her daughter Allison Fry and son Tim Fry, her grandchildren Samantha and Quinn Fry, her brother Thomas L. Quinn (Penni), nephews and niece Jeffrey Quinn (Jennifer), Scott Quinn (Lanie), and Matthew Crumply (Lindsay), Jennifer Freeman (Shawn), great-nephew Nolan and great-niece Lily, as well as many former students, colleagues, and friends who adored her.

A funeral mass will be held on Friday, August 16, at 10:00 a.m., at Saint Agnes Cathedral, with a graveside service immediately following at Hazelwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations to the Allison Quinn Fry Scholarship through Community Foundation of the Ozarks, P.O. Box 8960, Springfield, MO, 65801.