Mary Hickory, age 68, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on April 14, 2025.

Mary was born on June 16, 1956, in Springfield, IL. After her father died when she was 3 years old, her family moved to Springfield, MO, where they enjoyed frequent visits to Silver Dollar City. Mary graduated from Glendale High School and Southwest Missouri State University with a degree in biology. She initially planned to attend veterinarian school and even considered joining the staff at Campus Crusade, but instead she chose to pursue a career in insurance. Mary spent most of her career working at AAA Insurance and American National, eventually retiring in 2019.

Outside of work, Mary was an avid music lover. She played the violin, guitar, sang, and wrote music; she was especially gifted in writing musical parodies. Mary occasionally sang with local bands in town and at Silver Dollar City, and she and her mother never missed a Friday night at McSalty's when Nick, Ruell and Ned the Band was playing.

Friends and family will miss Mary's sense of humor and her talent for story-telling; her brother, Bill, often said that Mary could have an adventure in any situation. She had a sincere, deep faith which she shared at every opportunity out of a genuine concern for others. Mary never met a stranger, she believed that everyone deserved second chances, and she "prayed without ceasing" for family and friends.

Mary is survived by her sister-in-law, Kim Hickory; niece and nephew, Kalleigh (Michael) Saiz and Brent (Paige) Hickory; 2 great nieces, Salem and Sloan Hickory; and cousin, Joe (Robin) Holler. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to Convoy of Hope.

"This world is not my home, I'm just passing through,

My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.

The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door,

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore."