Mary Lou Roberts

Marion Mary Lou Roberts, 85, of Marion, passed away at 9:00 AM on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at Heartland Regional Medical Center with her family at her side. Funeral services for Mrs. Roberts are scheduled for Noon, Saturday, June 16, 2012 at Blue Funeral Home in Marion with Dr. Jack Hill, Mayor Bob Butler and Elaine Hancock officiating. Interment will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery. Visitation will precede the service from 10:00 AM until Noon. Blue Funeral Home in Marion is assisting the family with arrangements. Mary Lou was born Sunday, October 24, 1926 in McCormick, IL to Jewell Guy & Elma (Houston) Bethel. She married Carl Tyner in 1944 and started a family; he passed away four years later in 1948, leaving her with two small children. She later married J. Addison Roberts in 1950, producing a child. Together, Mary Lou & Addison shared fifty-nine years and raised three children. She is survived by her children, Belinda Sue Tyner-Ledbetter of Moab, UT and Addison Len & Robin Roberts of Marion; daughter-in-law, Carol Tyner of Marion; grandchildren, Angella Roberts, Aleah & Brandon White of Marion, Charissa Ledbetter-Campbell & James Campbell of Del Rey Oaks, CA, Tricia & Chad Bailey and Tammy & Eddie Holland all of Goreville; great-grandchildren, Emma McLaskey, Mariah and Ethan White, Jamie, Dylan and Katelyn Bailey, and Paige, Sarah Grace and Ryan Holland. Mary Lou was preceded in death by her first husband, Carl; second husband, J. Addison; son, Bruce Tyner; parents; four grandparents; beloved brother, Jewell “Junior” Bethel during the Battle of the Bulge in WWII; brothers, Donald H. Bethel and William G. Bethel and sister, Juanita Addison. She attended First Baptist Church in Marion from infancy and attended regularly until her health would not allow it. By age nine she had been baptized, became a Christian and joined the church, led by her father. She was a faithful member for seventy-six years. As an adult she served on many Church committees, often as chairman. Her love was for the young people of the Church which led her to become a Sunday School teacher, Superintendent & Director in the youth department of Sunday School & Church Training. She was also a Church G.A. (Missionary) leader and association G.A. leader. For eight years she was chairman of “Youth Activities”, which was the Fifth Organization of First Baptist, often having two-hundred in attendance for major events. She was Chairman of Funding for the Second Education office, gym and kitchen building. Mrs. Roberts worked in many capacities and held state licenses in Insurance, Real Estate and Nursing Home Administration. She and her husband Addison developed Edgewood and Roberts subdivisions. She donated much of her time to the Greater Marion Area Chamber of Commerce, believing that to help a city have the best possible business climate is necessary for individuals’ to best support their families. Mary Lou was the first person recognized for securing new Chamber members. She served as Chairman of most committees, the most visible being Chairman of the Building Committee. She oversaw the security of land from the State up until completion of a furnished and paid for, dedicated building. She was the first elected female Board Member, first female President of the Chamber and the first female “Man of the Year.” During Women’s History Week she was recognized as “Regional Woman of Distinction.” She was invited to attend & contribute to a discussion of the Williamson County Commissioners where it was decided to start impose taxes on hotel & motel charges. These funds have contributed to several County amenities, including the Pavilion, and the salaries of tourism promoters. Mrs. Roberts was a member of the Williamson County Blue Ribbon Sesquicentennial Commission, and served as Chairman of Program & Events; choosing to meet regularly with fifteen committees, which are recounted in the first Williamson County history book since 1905. She dedicated a number of years to each community effort, respectively: The United Way, Red Cross Bloodmobile, The American Heart Association and an original member of the Goddard Chapel restoration Commission. Mary Lou also designed the stylized “M” portion of the Marion City Flag. During a trip to the Holy Land in 1999, Mrs. Roberts’ husband, Addison, was responsible for the photographic reporting for Church members and their Preacher. Especially noteworthy was a picture taken aboard a vessel in the Sea of Galilee; a cloudy Sunday morning sky suddenly opened and the sun miraculously shined through. She was proud to be a wife and homemaker, always believing that being a Christian mother was the most important opportunity with which she was blessed. Mary Lou hopes that her life will hold meaning for those she has encountered in her time on Earth.