Mary Lea (Brown) Ritter, 85, of Adrian, MO, died on Thursday, September 26, 2024, at NorthCare Hospice House. Funeral services were held at the Adrian  First Baptist Church on Tuesday, October 1, 2024.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care.

Mary was born in Tecumseh, Oklahoma, on March 13, 1939, the daughter of Norman and Clyita (Willis) Brown. On May 14, 1959, she married David Ritter who predeceased her on May 18, 2017. Mary was a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell in 1957-1961. She retired after working as a cashier at Yoss Bros for over 20 years. Mary loved gardening, canned much of the food they grew, and was a wonderful cook. She loved her family and always cooked special treats for her siblings, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, David; her parents; and her brother, Kenneth Earl. She is survived by her two children, Judy (Steven) Skorepa and Steven Ritter; three grandchildren: Sarah (David) Kennedy, David (Ashley) Skorepa, and Roger Skorepa; five great-grandchildren: Jake Kennedy, Leo Kennedy, Blaise Kennedy, Cameron Skorepa, and Jonah Kennedy; her brother, Harold (Sharon) Brown; and her sister, Twilla Sebastian.