Mary Louise Staire
1939 -2007

Also surviving are three of her four children: a daughter, Cindy (Justis) Reichelt of Egg Harbor Township, N.J.; a son, Forrest Jr. (Butch) of Sadorus Illinois; and a daughter, Jenny Murray of Villa Grove, Illinois. Her son Michael preceded her in death on Nov. 13, 2004.

Mary and Forrest share 10 grandchildren: Jared and Kayla Staire of Sadorus, Tyler and Travis Murray of Villa Grove, Illinois, Maria and Jessica Staire of Mahomet Illinois, and Brandon and Caleb Justis and Ed and Harrison Reichelt of New Jersey.

Mary graduated from Unity High School in 1957. She worked at Illinois Power until her marriage to Buck in September 1958. While Buck was stationed at the Air Force base in Lake Charles, La., she worked at a local title company until starting a family in 1959. After a 10-year hiatus, she re-entered the work force as the sole secretary for Verle Carroll, principal of Sadorus Grade School.

Much to her children's chagrin, she was an office secretary at Unity High School from 1973 until her retirement in 1995.

Many of her homemaking years were spent gardening, canning and raising her children, with a weekly bowling league 'break.'

She thoroughly enjoyed boating, fishing and water-skiing with her family and an occasional bingo game. She loved each member of her family and had an extremely forgiving spirit. Family and Faith were both very important to her.

Her lifelong dream was realized in 2002 when she launched an Arabian horse business. Two of her five horses, named Lisa and Shedol were here in Illinois. She spent countless hours caring for them, and loved them as if they were her children. The other Arabian's remained in Nebraska while mom prepared for their arrival to Illinois. Unfortunately, mom passed before seeing her other horses arrive. She is now by still waters and green pastures and we are positive she tends to all the horse's in heaven.