Mary Peterson

Mary Fuller (Jackie) Peterson of St. Marys, Kansas, peacefully passed away the way she lived her life, never bothering anyone, at age 97 on Tuesday, September 23, 2014, at the St. Marys Hospital. Jackie was born August 25, 1917, in Louisburg, North Carolina, the oldest child of Fisher Jones and Armarilla Priscilla (Fuller) Beasley. After graduating in 1938 from the Woman's College of the University of North Carolina (now University of North Carolina at Greensboro) with a BS Degree in Secretarial Administration, Jackie worked for several years at Calvert Distillery in Baltimore, Maryland. On February 14, 1942, she married Bernard Francis Peterson. They resided in Baltimore for seven years before moving to a farm on the Vermillion River northwest of Belvue in 1949 to raise their large family. Jackie adapted to rural farm life where she and Bernard raised ten children. In 1991, Bernard and Jackie moved off the farm and resided in St. Marys. Mrs. Peterson was preceded in death by her husband in 2011, her brother Fisher Jones Beasley, Jr. in 2007, her sister Rebecca Ann Simpson in 2009 and her granddaughter, Jill Peterson in 2013. Jackie is survived by her brother Robert Festus Beasley, Baltimore, Maryland, her sister Doris Josephine Ross, Black Mountain, North Carolina, and her ten children: Robert (Margaret) Peterson, Wamego; David (Mary Jean) Peterson, Wamego; John (Roxie) Peterson, Wamego; Michael (Linda) Peterson, Surprise, Arizona; Steven (Mary) Peterson, West Linn, Oregon, Dennis (Patricia) Peterson, Wamego; Anne (Kirk) Bradford, Marysville; Thomas Peterson, Emmett; Katherine (Max Alan) Hale, Salina; and Jean (Kevin) Gualtieri, Clayton, California. In addition, she has 23 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Peterson will lie in state after 4:00 P.M. Sunday, September 28, 2014 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Marys where there will be a Prayer Service/Rosary recited at 5:00 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. Monday, September 29, 2014, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, St. Marys. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions to the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home. Inurnment will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, St. Marys at a later date. Online condolences may be sent to www.piperfuneralhome.com.