Mary Catherine (Cowan) Gillum, 93, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, March 15, 2016, at her home.

Mary was born July 20, 1922 in Kirksville, MO the daughter of Victor Clyde and Sylvia Belle (Crooks) Cowan. On December 23, 1943 Mary was united in marriage to Willard Earnest Gillum and they were blessed with three sons.

Mary is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, John and Janice Gillum, Roger and Ellen Gillum, and Robert and Vickie Gillum all of Kirksville, MO, five granddaughters, Pam Matthews, Kathy Brown, Tracy (Allen) Snowbarger, Callie (Jeff) May, and Sara Gillum and Ryan; ten great-grandchildren, Riley, Tyler, Tabitha, Gunner, Kassie, Shelby, Benjamin, Amanda, Michaela, and Ross; three great-great grandchildren; four nieces and one nephew, as well as many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her infant daughter; one sister, Callie Clark; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Noah M. and Vyca Cowan and C. Feral and Zelma Cowan, and one nephew, Richard Clark.

Mary attended Greenwood School in Kirksville, Martinstown School, and graduated from Unionville High School with the Class of 1940. She worked for twenty-eight years at Kirksville Osteopathic Hospital as a floor nurse and in the pharmacy until her retirement.

Mary and Willard had lived on their farm for the past fifty-seven years where they raised their sons and celebrated the lives of their sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Mary managed the farm after Willard's death and was able to maintain a large yard, flowers, and make frequent trips to town to attend exercise group, luncheons, and social gatherings with her friends. Anyone that knew Mary, adored her for her humor, independence, her strong personality and her loving heart. She was an inspiration to her family and all who knew her and will be deeply missed.

Public visitation will be held Friday, March 18, 2016, with family receiving friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the chapel of Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. March 19, 2016, at Travis-Noe Funeral Home, with Pastor Alan Coonfield officiating and Tom Mitten giving the Eulogy. Janice Mitten will be playing and singing music selections, "One day at A Time" and "Old Rugged Cross". Interment will follow the service at Lone Pine Cemetery, north of Martinstown.

Pallbearers will be Jeff May, Jimmie Cowan, Dennis Phelps, Tom Mitten, Nathan Byers, and Dennis Fechtling.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lone Pine Cemetery. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.