Mary Virginia Stapleton, age 106 of Jefferson City, Missouri passed away on August 28, 2020 in Springfield, Missouri.  She was born in Moberly, Missouri to John H. Polson and Myrtle Belle Polson.  She moved to Jefferson City when she was in high school.  She joined in marriage to Tom A. Stapleton in August of 1935, who preceded her in death in 1966.  Tom was Supervisor of Sales and Use Tax for the Missouri Department of Revenue from 1957 to 1966.  She was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church in Jefferson City, Missouri, and a member of the Morning Music Club, where she served as president for two terms in the 1980's.  She was a lifelong Democrat who first voted for Franklin D. Roosevelt and met former President Bill Clinton when she was 102 years of age.

Mary Virginia worked for five years for the Department of Parks and Recreation for the State of Missouri.  Prior to that she was a homemaker and pianist for several churches and funeral homes in the Jefferson City area.

Mary Virginia is survived by her son, Thomas L. Stapleton, Greensboro, North Carolina; her daughter, Marla J. Immekus (Bruce), Rogersville, Missouri; four grandchildren, Thomas Gentry Stapleton, Charlotte, North Carolina; Rhonda Woods, Greensboro, North Carolina; Laura Bays (Michael), Fayetteville, Arkansas; and Philip Immekus, Springfield, Missouri; along with five great-grandchildren, Gentry, Abby and Sam Stapleton Benson and Beau Bays.

Mary was an accomplished pianist, playing in solo and duo piano performances with the Morning Music Club and in service to her church in Jefferson City.  She enjoyed golfing, crocheting, walking in her beloved neighborhood in Jefferson City, and the company of her many friends in the Jefferson City area.  Her independent, resilient and creative spirit was admired by all that knew and loved her.  She lived in her home until the age of 100, when she moved to Springfield to be closer to family.  She lived at the Waterford Independent Living until the age of 103, and later at Glendale Gardens in Springfield, Missouri.  Their loving and dedicated care was much appreciated by the family.

Memorial services for family and friends will be held at the outdoor chapel at Riverview Cemetery, Jefferson City, Missouri on Monday, October 5, 2020 at 11:00 am, followed by interment.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Jefferson City.  Online condolences may be left at gormanscharpf.com.