Mary Ann Blessing, 73, of Memphis, Missouri, entered eternal life on Monday, September 12, 2016, following a courageous battle with cancer.

She was born November 2, 1942, at State Center in Marshall County, Iowa, to Lyle Dale and Florence G. Edwards Watts.

She graduated from Melbourne High School in Melbourne, Iowa, with the class of 1962.

Mary Ann was married to Jack P. Blessing on June 10, 1966, at the farm home of his parents at Memphis and to this union three children were born. They were married for forty-two years.

She was a member of the Downing Christian Church in Downing, Missouri.

Mary Ann was a devoted homemaker and a housekeeper for others for thirty years. She worked for Kraft Foods and was a cook at Scotland County Schools for a short time. She enjoyed planting flowers; feeding and watching birds in her yard and especially the hummingbirds.. She realized her greatest joy when she could be with her grandchildren and loved to watch her grandsons and granddaughters participation in sports; always cheering for their teams. Mary Ann will be remembered by all those who knew her for her pointed effort to always greet people and smile at them, no matter where she was.

Mary Ann is survived by her children: Angie Hawthorne of Belleville, Illinois; Amy Blessing St. Clair and her husband, Aaron, of Braceville, Illinois and Jarrod A. Blessing and his wife, Debbie, of Memphis, Missouri and her five grandchildren: Nicholas Hawthorne, Danielle Hawthorne, Mazy Gray, Jacob Blessing and Aaron Blessing. Also surviving are three brothers: Richard Dale Watts of Marshalltown, Iowa, Larry Dale Watts of Moline, Illinois and Wayne Watts of Melbourne, Iowa; two sisters: Dixie Lee Glasglow and Debra Watts; nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband in 2008.