Mary M. Southard

Mary M. Southard, 78, of Poplar Bluff, formerly of Greenville, died Saturday, March 29, 2008 at Westwood Hills Healthcare Center, in Poplar Bluff.

Mrs. Southard was born March 21, 1930, in Loda, Ill. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, and was a homemaker. During her earlier years Mrs. Southard worked as a CNA at the Poplar Bluff Hospital. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Greenville Chapter 337. Mrs. Southard enjoyed traveling and dancing, quilt making and crafts, and playing Skip-Bo and Dominos.

She was married to Robert Southard. He preceded her in death.

Survivors include five children, Robert Harold Southard, of Merriam Woods, Mo., Ida Lorraine Keele, of Williamsville, Charles Russell Southard, of Greenville, David Bryan Southard, of Verona, Va. and Bruce Douglas Southard, of Morrison, Colo.; nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren; and a brother, James Aaron Taylor, of Watseka, Ill.

Her parents, Russell Byron and Zelda (Richardson) Taylor and an infant daughter, Sonja Sue Southard preceded her in death.

An Eastern Star Service will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel, in Poplar Bluff with visitation following until 8 p.m. In accordance with Mrs. Southard's wishes she will be cremated and no memorial services will be held.

Memorials may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation, Inc., Office of Development, 1501 NW 9th Ave., Bob Hope Road, Miami, FL 33136-1494, or Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave., 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001.