Mary Carol (Burns) Spears

Mary Carol Spears, 83, of Winfield, KS passed away Sunday, June 11, 2023, at Cumbernauld Village.

Memorial services will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, July 1, 2023 at Highland Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cumbernauld Village Preschool. Contributions may be made left in the care of the Shelley Family Funeral Home of Winfield.

Mary Carol was born on March 6, 1940 in Hydro, OK to Carol M. and John D. Burns. She then moved to Cushing, OK, Arkansas City, KS and Ponca City, OK, settling in Newkirk, OK. She attended Newkirk schools, graduating high school in 1958. She attended Oklahoma State University where she met Bob Spears at a Sig Ep Sadie Hawkins dance. Mary Carol and Bob were married January 21, 1962. They lived in married student housing, then moved to Newkirk. Mary Carol then began her teaching career as a home economics teacher in Konawa, OK, teaching there for two years. Mary Carol and Bob moved to Winfield where she taught in Dexter, KS. She later worked for the Cowley County Extension Council and taught at Southwestern College. Finally, she taught at Winfield High School, retiring in 1999. She and Bob made their home in Winfield where they lived for almost 60 years.

Mary Carol loved teaching, and more than anything loved her students. Many of them have kept in contact with her through the years. She also adored her family. She was the chief family party planner. She celebrated all things big and small and passed down to her family her great sense of decorating, her love of cooking and baking, and of course her great style. She was the best mom, grandma, and great-grandma. Mary Carol was blessed with many friends. All of whom helped her in the years since Bob’s passing. She once said, “You can’t make old friends.” And she treasured her friends so much. She knew they were as precious as gold.

Mary Carol loved to travel and was a great trip planner. She also knew her many trips to be some of her biggest blessings and she enjoyed many trips before she had to stay home to care for Bob in his later days. She was a wonderful caregiver to her family, but especially to Bob. After his passing, her health declined, and she moved to Cumbernauld in September 2022. Her family won’t eat a piece of chocolate cake, play a game of Bingo or visit the mountains or beach without thinking of her. She loved her home, and watching sunrises, sunsets and hummingbirds on her deck was her favorite. She was the most loving, nurturing, and fun-loving mom and grandma. She was also a member of the First United Methodist Church.

Mary Carol is survived by her daughter Lori Gabrielson and husband Nils, son Rob Spears and wife Trisha, grandchildren: Maggie Knobbe and husband Kyler, Molly Palmer and husband Scott, Cooper Spears, Lydia Spears; great-grandchildren: Emmie and Ella Knobbe, and Chloe Palmer. She is preceded in death by her parents and husband Robert.