Marian Lee Hess

Marian Lee Anderson Still Hess

Marian Lee Anderson Still Hess, 87 of Kirksville passed away Saturday (April 7, 2012) at Northeast Regional Medical Center.

She was born September 26, 1924 to Bertha and Carlos Carter Anderson in Laclede, MO. After graduating from Brookfield High School in 1942, where she was awarded most outstanding student, she attended college at Kirksville State Teachers College (now Truman State University) where she was president of her sorority and winner of the campus beauty pageant. She graduated in 1947 with a BS in Vocational Home Economics.

In June 1947 she married Harry Stanley Still. They lived in Kirksville while he finished his schooling and became an osteopathic physician and became certified in psychiatry.

They lived in Macon where Dr. Still was employed at Still Hildreth Sanatorium. They had four children, Harry Lee, Laura Jane, Louise Elizabeth, and Rebecca Sue.

After 25 years of marriage, they were divorced. Marian moved to Columbia, finished her master’s degree in Housing and Interior Design and became Director of Home Economics for McGraw Edison Company. In that position she traveled a great deal and was on their board of product policy.

After 4 years, she resigned and accepted the position of Housing and Interior Design Specialist with University of Missouri Extension in St. Louis, where she worked until her retirement in 1992. For most of her life she remained in St. Louis except for 8 ½ years when she moved back to Macon to marry attorney, Paul Hess. In 2005 she moved from St. Louis to League City, TX. In 2009 she moved to Kirksville, MO.

Marian, was an active community volunteer and leader. She spent several years volunteering at The City Museum. She helped with the elderhostel on University of Missouri – St. Louis campus. She was a board member of Places for People. She was P.E.O. President and the vice president and program chairman of AAUW (American Association of University Women). She served on boards of Hostelling International and Long Term Care Ombudsman Program.

Marian enjoyed adventure. She loved to travel. She traveled extensively through Europe, Asia, Australia, South America and Africa. In her later years she enjoyed the Caribbean. Marian enjoyed golf, bridge, exercise and gardening. Her grandchildren, who called her Shoo Shoo, will remember her for her many words of wisdom on how to live life!

Marian was preceded in death by her parents and one grandson, Grant Andrew Gibson.

Marian is survived by her sister, Betty Schlanker of Macon, her four children, H. Lee Still of League City, Texas, Laura J. Still of Kirksville, MO, Louise E. Still of Columbia, MO and Rebecca S. Still of Queens City, MO; 9 grandchildren, Sarah Gibson Svoboda of Shiloh, IL, Julie Gibson Dungan of Manhattan, KS, Benjamin Gibson of St. Louis, MO, Clayton Gibson of St. Louis, MO, Elizabeth McClure of Columbia, MO, Megan McClure Moore of Columbia, MO, Nathan McFarland of Novinger, MO, Lindsey McFarland of Warrensburg, MO and Jennifer McFarland of Linn, MO and 6 great grandchildren, Abigail Svoboda, Roman Svoboda, Anderson Dungan, Ellie Dungan, Colin Gibson and Colton Moore. She will be sadly missed by all.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday (April 10, 2012) at Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home with Reverend Stephen McDuff officiating.

Visitation with the family will be from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Tuesday at the Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home, 2100 E. Shepherd Ave. Kirksville, MO 63501 660-665-2233