MARY PROBERT

GOLDEN CITY-Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Christian Church in Golden City for Mary Eugenia Probert, 89, Golden City, who died peacefully in her home, surrounded by her children, on Wednesday morning, Dec. 28, 2016.

Arrangements are under the direction of Ulmer Funeral Home, Carthage.

Visitation will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday, at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be made at www.ulmerfh.com.

Memorial gifts may be given to the First Christian Church of Golden City or to the Mary E. Probert Scholarship Fund, in care of the funeral home.

Survivors include her son, Tony Probert and wife Tina, Golden City; a daughter, Roberta Koontz, LaRussell and a son, Randy Probert and wife Reina, Jasper; grandchildren, Kurt Koontz and wife Arron, Carl Junction, Courtney Sletten and husband Jake, Freistatt, Mallory Smith and husband Matthew, Berryville, Ark., Blake Probert, Springfield and Chase Probert, Springfield; five great-grandsons, MJ and Bradley Sletten, Landry and Holden Koontz and Huxley Smith; two brothers-in-law, Ed Weinstein and Orville Duncan; two sisters-in-law, Wanda Probert and Betty Probert and many nieces, nephews, former students, choir members, fellow musicians and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe and a son-in-law, Mark Koontz.

Mrs. Probert was born Oct. 27, 1927, in Gary, Ind., to Sylvene and Ray Hoeppner. When she was in fourth grade her family moved to Golden City, Mo., where she attended school until her senior year when she moved to St. Louis and graduated from Soldan High School. While in St. Louis she attended Harris Teacher's College, later finishing her education degree and pursuing her masters at Pittsburg State University.

She married Joseph Edward Probert in 1950 and together they reared three children while operating a dairy farm. She was a well-loved teacher whose zeal for teaching music inspired many to appreciate and pursue music performance and education. She taught in rural Missouri schools, including Pleasant Valley, Bois D'Arc, Bloomingdale, Dewey, Star Valley and Avilla. She spent 19 of her 30-year teaching career as the music teacher at Jasper Elementary School. She received several prestigious awards at both the local and state level. What made her the most proud was being able to help her students and choirs receive I ratings in competitions, and they often did. When she retired on May 13, 1983, the school declared it “Mary Probert Day”. Upon her retirement, she became active in Missouri Retired Teachers Association, serving in many roles, including president of the organization. Mrs. Probert was her region's nominee for the Missouri Retired Teacher of the Year award in 2004. She was often called upon in retirement to help students prepare for competition and to fill in at Golden City and Dadeville schools, resulting in a new generation of Mrs. Probert fans, including her own grandson and his classmates.

Also in retirement, she was a very active “GrandMary” to five adoring grandchildren, survived treatment for neck cancer and later breast cancer, worked at the government FSA office and Dot's Fashions, and continued to raise cattle with her son, Randy.

Mrs. Probert was a long time member of First Christian Church in Golden City. She was the organist and choir director for over 30 years, putting on many wonderful cantatas. She started and directed the “Belles of Glory” bell choir. She was the chairperson of services concerning funerals and baby and bridal showers and faithfully attended Bible study and helped with VBS, the apple pie fundraiser and in various capacities as needed. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels and was well respected in her community. She was very honored to receive Golden City's Person of the Year award, both in 1993 and 2014.

She was a loving servant and shining light to many. She will be remembered for her faith and devotion, energy and enthusiasm, spunk and wit. She was very blessed and would want all laud and glory to be to her Lord.