Obituary of Mary L. Dempsay

Mary L. Dempsay, age 88, passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 2, 2016 on a beautiful morning in Osage Beach. Mary was born on November 30, 1926, in Rice, Illinois, the daughter of Richard Jones and Ella Smith Jones. Mary was fond of sports and was quite the athlete. After graduating from Pinckneyville High School and working at a dealership in Nashville, she moved to St. Louis. In 1952, Mary married her childhood friend, Elmer Dean Dempsay (Jack) after his discharge from the U.S. Air Force. They moved to the Joliet area and started a family. In addition to raising three children, Mary was a beautician, a volunteer in the schools and library, and worked at JJC. She enjoyed bowling, dancing, and attending school functions and sporting events for her kids and grandkids. Mary and Elmer loved camping as well as traveling with friends and relatives. Mary had many adventures with her sisters Linda and Dorothy, sister-in-law Betty, and longtime friend Neva. For the last seven years, Mary has lived in Lake Ozark, Missouri. She was a loving, caring woman that will be missed by all that knew her. Mary is survived by her daughter Vicky (Brian) Donaldson of Minooka, IL, son Jack (Dawn) Dempsay of Iron Station, NC, and her daughter Dana (Robert) Dullard of Lake Ozark, MO. She has four grandsons: Zachary Donaldson, Jeremy Donaldson, Nathan (Jennifer) Donaldson, and Patrick Dempsay; three granddaughters: Kaitlin Dullard, Lindsay Dullard, and Mikaela Dullard; three great grandchildren: Darcy Donaldson, Aidan Donaldson, and Autumn Litrento-Donaldson; and a sister: Linda Hunter. She also leaves behind numerous relatives and friends. Preceded in death by her parents, husband Elmer Dean, sister Dorothy Frederking, brother David Jones, and grandson Matthew Charles Donaldson.