Mary Louise (Summers) McClerren – Benton, IL

BENTON — Mary Louise (Summers) McClerren, 91, joined loved ones in heaven Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015.

She was born May 11, 1924, the daughter of Joseph Guy and Grace Ethel (Harris) Summers in Cave Township.

Mrs. McClerren attended Thomsonville schools and after graduation worked in West Frankfort.

She met young William “Billy” Silas McClerren in Mount Zion Church in Thompsonville where a young Mary Lou and sister, Wilma, were singing in front of the congregation. Story was that she called him “pie-face” on the school grounds and him saying quietly he was going to marry her some day. They were married on May 23, 1943.

During World War II she worked in Washington, D.C. at the U.S. Department of Treasury where her responsibilities included contacting royalty members in asylum.

She was the song leader at East Benton Baptist Church where she was very active in the 1950s.

She was a very efficient homemaker, an accomplished seamstress and enjoyed quilting and baking. She also loved Christmas and thanked those that helped her “keep Christmas.”

The joys of her life were close and extended family — she was the hub of their lives keeping all informed of family blessings and ills.

Preceding her in death were her loving parents; all seven siblings; husband in March 1994; son, William Richard in July 2015; granddaughter, Kelly Jo Robertson in February 2015; grandson, Matthew Todd Emerson in 1974; great-grandson, Dalton Wayne Russell in 1995; and son-in-law, Dale Leroy Emerson in March 2015.

Keeping the family traditions alive are daughters, Marilyn Candace (Stephen) Hall of Boone, North Carolina, and Margaret Alison Emerson of Waverly; son, Samuel Silas of Springfield; nine grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; and many treasured nieces and nephews.

Services will be at 2 p.m Sunday, Dec. 27 in Morton and Johnston Funeral Home. Burial will be at Mt. Zion Cemetery, Thompsonville. Visitation will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home at 410 S. Main St., in Benton.

The family requests donations be directed to Mount Zion Cemetery in Thompsonville or a favorite charity.

Condolences may be sent online to www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com.