Mary Lois Root, 69, of Muncie, passed away on the morning of Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie.
She was born on August 30, 1951 in New Castle, Indiana, a daughter of Mary Louise (Blevins) and John C. Root, Jr.
Mary was a 1969 graduate of Hagerstown High School and attended Hobe Sound Bible College in Hobe Sound, Florida. She received her LPN from IVY Tech Community College and started her nursing career at Reid Hospital in Richmond. She later became a registered nurse while in Kansas and worked for Life Care Centers of America. She moved up in the company serving in management, governmental compliance, and training, traveling to their locations across the US including Hawaii. Mary then worked for Vanguard Healthcare Services in Brentwood, TN. She retired in 2018 and moved to Muncie to be closer to family.
Mary enjoyed playing the piano, loved Southern Gospel Music, and was involved in music ministry with her family when she was young. She was a charter member of the Community Baptist Church in Spring Hill, TN and upon moving to Muncie attended True Light Baptist. Mary admired and enjoyed her family from the youngest to the oldest.
Those left to cherish Mary’s memory include her mother, Mary (Kenny) Cowen of New Castle; siblings, John D. (Linda) Root of Economy, Michael D. (Gayle) Root of Decatur, Alabama, Carol (Phil) Mattingly of Hagerstown, and Robert “Bob” J. (Natalie) Root of New Castle, several nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews whom she dearly loved.
She was preceded in death by her father, John C. Root, Jr., a sister-in-law, Shirley Root, and a special great-nephew, Kinsler Tate Mattingly.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Tuesday, December 15, 2020, at Sproles Family Funeral Home with Pastor Dennis Trimble officiating. Burial will follow in Brick Cemetery in Hagerstown.
Visitation will be held from 4 – 8 pm on Monday at the funeral home.