Mary Etta Fowler Slack, 80, of Springfield, MO, passed away on July 2, 2018. Mary was born on January 4, 1938, to Blanche Darby Fowler and Homer Fowler near Tunas, MO.

She graduated from Buffalo High School in 1955 and married Donald B. Slack on December 18, 1955. To this union, two children were born, Michael and Jillian. Mary and Don had been married three months shy of 51 years when he passed away.

Mary was a stay-at-home wife and mother for many years before joining the workforce. She held several retail positions and then retired from Great Southern Bank in Springfield in 1998 after working in its Customer Service Department for 10 years.

She was a long-time member and Deacon at Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Springfield, a member of the Rachel Donelson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution since the 1970s, and a member and past board member of the Dallas County Historical Society in Buffalo, MO. She was passionate about genealogy, travel, the St. Louis Cardinals, NASCAR, and riding the Harley with Avery.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald B. Slack; son, Michael D. Slack; parents, Blanche Darby Kelley and Homer Fowler; sister, Kay Fowler Peele; aunt, Ruth Darby Ensminger; and her grandparents, John L. and Emma Maddux Darby and Albert and Lillie Simmons Fowler.

Mary is survived by her daughter, Jillian Slack; a grandson, Matthew Slack, who was the joy of Mary's life, and his wife, Alexa; her niece, Shay Peele Luckie; her nephew, Todd Peele; her best friend and companion, Avery Bradley, and his wonderful family; and many cousins and friends.

Visitation will be held at 9:00 AM on Thursday, July 12, 2018, at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home in Springfield, followed by a celebration of Mary's life at 10:00 AM, with burial at Missouri Veterans Cemetery at 11:00 AM.