Mary Elizabeth Brucker, 98, passed away at 12:07pm, December 22, 2023, in St. Louis, MO.

Her funeral will be held 11:00am, Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Colfax. At this time there will be a celebration of the life of her sister L. Joan Brucker. Pastor Wayne Gierman will be officiating.

Burial will be in Wiley Cemetery, Colfax.

Visitation will be held from 10:30-11:00am, on Tuesday also at the funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Audubon Society, Friendship Village of Sunset Hills, Webster Grove Presbyterian Church, or Mercy Hospice South, St. Louis, MO

Mary was born December 3, 1925, in Fairbury, the daughter of Ernest and Naomi March (Hanna) Brucker.

Surviving are her nieces and nephews, Susan (James) Henkel of Normal, Jill Graham of Bloomington, Brian Brucker of Saybrook, Mary (John) Armon of Galesburg, Frank Vlastnik of CA, and John (Tammi) Vlastnik of Chapel Hill, NC; eight great-nieces and nephews; and 14 great-great-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, James and Charles; two sisters, Joan Brucker and Nancy Vlastnik; great-nephew, Andy Brucker.

Mary graduated from Colfax Community High School in 1942 and Illinois State University of Normal in 1946. She then majored in English and earned her masters from the University of Illinois in Education in 1952.

She worked for State Farm and taught at Metamora Township High School and United Township High School in Moline. She retired from the Danforth Foundation.

She was an active member of the Second Presbyterian Church in Webster Grove, MO.

Mary was an avid bird watcher. She would travel the country wither her sister Joan, documenting the many species of birds they would come across.