Mary Lovell, age 87, of Edmond, Oklahoma, formerly of Cassville, Missouri, passed away peacefully on Feb. 26, 2021.  Mary, daughter of Roy and Emogene Thomas was born in a log cabin in Mineral Springs, Missouri, on June 26, 1933.  As the oldest of nine children she grew up on the farm her grandfather homesteaded in Cross Hollow.  She attended a local country schoolhouse until grade eight, then finished high school in Cassville.  She spent the majority of her life in Springfield Colorado and upon the opening of the Southeast Colorado Hospital she began her life long dream of working in medicine.  Her passion never faded and she worked her way to a position as nurse's aide and when the opportunity presented itself she became one of the first EMT's to work at the hospital.  Borrowing a passage from the SECH website: "Lovell made history along with Frank England and a few others when they became Springfield's first EMT's in 1976" .  She had plenty of stories to tell.  Mary also loved gardening.  She spent many hours outdoors working to make sure her flowerbed was top notch.  Upon retirement she moved to Edmond Oklahoma to live closer to her son and daughter-in-law.  Her final years were spent in an assisted living facility in Oklahoma City.  The staff took very good care of her and always put up with the Thomas stubbornness with a smile.  She could be a handful but they loved her.  To end with a quote "Everything that has a beginning also has an ending.  Make your peace with that and all is well".  Godspeed mom.  You will be missed.

She is survived by one son Mike and his wife Anne; one son-in-law, Robert Ledezma; one brother, John Thomas; three sisters, Doris Rasa, Connie Georges and Maggie Thomas; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents Roy and Emogene, her daughter Debbie and four sisters, Wilma, Thelma, Velma, and Sue.

Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 3, 2021, at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Cassville, with Pastor John Hile officiating.

Service arrangements are under the direction of the White Funeral Home and Crematory, Cassville, Missouri.