Mary Ellen Sheets, 91, of Edina, Missouri, passed away Sunday, March 20, 2011, at the Knox County Nursing Home in Edina, Missouri.

Mary was born on July 28, 1919, in Edina, Missouri, the daughter of Herman Julius and Hattie Mae Kennedy Marquardt.

She attended the Edina Schools and was united in marriage to Leslie A. Sheets on July 4, 1946, in Kirksville, Missouri.

Les and Mary resided in Shelbina and Novelty before returning to Edina, to make their home. She worked at many jobs throughout her life, cleaning houses, working at the Glove Factory, served as Matron at the Courthouse for the Sheriff’s Department and kept the books for their business, “Les’s Trash and Trucking”.

Mary enjoyed quilting, sewing for others, visiting special friends at the nursing home especially Anita, Steven and Brian, gardening, keeping her violets, reading and feeding her birds. She was an avid Chicago Cubs Fan but most of all her life was devoted to her family, especially her grandson Travis.

Mary is survived by her husband, Les Sheets of Edina, Missouri; a daughter, Jan James of Edina, Missouri, a brother, Paul Marquardt of Kirksville, Missouri; a grandson, Travis James of Brashear, Missouri and his children Caylie and Hunter James; along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Hattie Marquardt; four sisters, Pauline Pebley, Lucille Sheets, Katherine Waibel and Thelma Fast.

Funeral Services will be Wednesday, March 23, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at the Doss Funeral Home in Edina, Missouri.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until service time at the funeral home.

Burial will be in the Park View Memorial Gardens in Kirksville, Missouri.

Reverend Paul Milliken will officiate and Casket Bearers will be Travis James, Mike James, Gordon Edwards, Martin Edwards, Leslie Paul Sheets and James Sheets.

An expression of sympathy in memory of Mary Sheets may be left to the Knox County American Cancer Relay for Life or the Knox County Nursing Home. A memorial may be left at or mailed to the Doss Funeral Home 208 N. 4 ^th Street, Edina, Missouri 63537.