Mary Elizabeth (Lakin) Hamby

January 21, 1935 ~ August 4, 2023

Mary Elizabeth Lakin Hamby, passed away peacefully, with her loving family by her side, on August 4, 2023 in Mt. Olive, Illinois. She was 88 years old.

Born January 21, 1935, in Granite City, Illinois, to the late David Judson and Anna Day (Scott) Lakin, Mary was 1 of 14 siblings. She lived in Granite City until she and her family moved to her parents’ farm in Mt. Olive. As a young adult, she married Clifford Dale Hamby and raised 5 children. Later, she became the beloved “Mimi” to her 5 grandchildren and was ultimately blessed to spend time with her great-grandchildren. She loved her family more than anything in this world.

Mary was an accountant by trade, and a legal expert in her free time. She gave selflessly to her community, helping friends and family with their taxes, legal issues, and life advice. She lived to help everyone and treated anyone she met with dignity and respect. Mary was a worthy matron of the Order of the Eastern Star, in Staunton, Illinois. She also served as Treasurer of Mt. Olive for a term.

“Mother Mary” loved flowers and later in life worked as a florist at Baisch and Skinner. Her home garden always flourished, and she loved to give seeds and sprigs to anyone who wanted to beautify their yards. She also cherished her fur-baby grand pups and kitties.

Mary is survived by and will be missed dearly by her daughter Sandra Anton of St. Charles, Missouri; son and daughter-in-law, Jeffrey and Carol Hamby of Mt. Olive, Illinois; son Mark Hamby of Edmond, Oklahoma; daughter and son-in-law Diane and Michael Hahn of Overland, Missouri; daughter Angela Cange of Maryville, Illinois; grandchildren Jason Hamby, Brittany Cange, Ryan Hamby, Joshua Hahn, Adam Cange; great-grandchildren Clayton Hamby, Mason Hamby, Colton Hamby, Alyssa Devries; brother, Tracy Lynn Lakin.

In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her former husband; Clifford Hamby; son-in-law Clifton Cange; sisters Anna Charlotte Flowers, Virginia Maxville, Betty Dorway, Bess Louise Fenton, Yvonne Mathis; brothers David "Bud" Lakin, Richard Lakin, Stanley Bobby Lakin, Elmer Clinton "Sonny" Lakin, Johnny Lakin, Barry Lakin, Gerald “Jeep” Lakin.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 09, 2023 from 10:00am to 1:00pm at Becker & Son Funeral Home, 221 S Poplar St. in Mt. Olive. In celebration of Mary’s life, funeral services will be held later that day on Wednesday, August 09, 2023 at 1:00pm. Burial will follow at Elm Lawn Memorial Park in Litchfield, Illinois.

Memorial donations are suggested to Missouri Botanical Gardens: Missouri Botanical Garden