Mary Susan Staggs

Mary Susan Staggs passed away peacefully Friday, September 27, 2013, at the Putnam County Care Center where she had been a resident for the last five years after having suffered a debilitating stroke.

Mary Susan was born in January of 1930, in Centerville, Iowa, to Murl E. and Martha J. (Crumpacker) Husted. She lived and attended school in Unionville, Missouri, until she graduated with the Class of 1947. She joined the Unionville Christian Church in 1945 and many years later joined the Unionville United Methodist Church.

Mary Susan, known to many as Tudie, attended Christian College in Columbia, Missouri, graduating in 1949 with an Associate Degree in Music, and continued her education at the University of Missouri. She and Glenn were married in 1949 and continued living in Columbia until Glenn’s graduation and commission into the United States Air Force where he was a career pilot. Mary Susan adapted well to the demands of military life and excelled in making their eleven homes in eight states comfortable for their family.

Intent on completing her degree, Mary Susan returned to college many years later, graduating in 1970 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from the University of North Dakota. Music was always an important and enjoyable part of Mary Susan’s life: she taught piano in their home for many years and sang with various groups, including the Skylarks, the church choir and the Unionville Keynotes.

Mary Susan and Glenn returned to Unionville in 1974 where she became active in the community as Mother Advisor of the Rainbow Girls and eventually became a fifty-year member of PEO, serving in many positions including president.
A few years later, Mary Susan and Glenn moved to Colorado to live in the mountains she loved. They owned and operated businesses in Woodland Park and Loveland. In 1992 they returned to Unionville where Mary Susan enjoyed visiting with family and friends, cooking, sewing, reading, and creating beautiful crewelwork. She always had a kind smile and helping hand for anyone in need and took particular delight in her grandchildren. Even after her crippling stroke and its painful and disorienting aftermath, she maintained her sweet nature and sense of humor. In her darkest and most difficult days, she and her family especially appreciated the kindness and care she received from so many of the employees at the Putnam County Care Center.

Mary Susan was preceded in death by her parents and granddaughter Amy Turk.

She is survived by and will be greatly missed by her husband, Glenn; brothers Buzz (Patricia) Husted of Pensacola, FL, and Fred (Donna) Husted of Republic, MO; children, Martie (Dennis) Fast of Golden, CO, John Staggs of Unionville, and Stephanie (Tom) Fowler of Unionville; grandchildren, Andrea Fast, Steven Fast, Jessica Staggs Olson, John R. Fowler, Erin Fowler Stober, Elizabeth Fowler Sheybani, S. Katie Fowler and David C. Fowler, six great-grandchildren, nieces and a nephew.

At Mary Susan’s request, no service is planned and a family burial will be at a date yet to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Unionville United Methodist Church and the Union Cemetery in Putnam County may be entrusted with Playle-Jones Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th St., Unionville, MO 63565.