Mary Thelma (Carter) Westpheling was born August 13, 1921 at home near Roaring River, one of ten children. She was the daughter of Rev. James (Jim) Allen Carter (the walking preacher of the Ozarks), and Artie Elizabeth (Cordell) Carter, her parents. Mary went to meet the Lord on October 1 ^st , at the age of 98.

Mary attended rural schools at Muncey, Roaring River, and Viola through the fifth grade. She often stayed with her grandparents Russell and Harriet Cordell in Viola, Mo.

Mary married Robert Glen Westpheling in 1938, and moved to the Shell Knob area. To this union three children were born; Bonnie Fair on October 30, 1939; Dewey George on October 2, 1941; and Barbara Ann on May 31, 1944.

Mary raised her three children working in tomato canneries, a sewing factory in Pierce City, and in various cafe's in Cassville and the Roaring River Hotel. In later years, she stayed and cared for elderly people in the surrounding area.

Also preceding her in death are her two sons Bonnie Fair and Dewey George Westpheling; Granddaughter Vicki Jo (Westpheling) Struse; great-grandson Charles Jackson III; and son-in-law Herbert Arlis Burbridge. Also preceding her in death were her twin brother's Virgil Russell Carter and Spurgeon Clarence Carter; sister's Edith Pansy (Carter) Ball, and Leorena Margaret (Carter) Ball; a younger brother Benjamin (Benny) Franklin Carter; and a second set of twins, Ellis Artie Carter and Elsie Elizabeth (Carter) Elting; a half-sister Minnie Myrtle (Carter) Crawford; and a four year old brother James Levi Carter.

Survivors include her daughter Barbara Ann Burbridge; daughter-in-law Sandra Westpheling of Des Moines, Iowa, and seventeen grandchildren, forty-one great-grandchildren, and twenty-seven great-great-grandchildren.

Mary was saved at a young age. Throughout her life she trusted in God and loved her family. She enjoyed reading, had a sweet-tooth for peppermints, and milky-way candy bars.

She also loved Kentucky Fried Chicken, and her favorite color was blue. She was a fantastic cook; her bread pudding, bread, and cinnamon rolls will never be forgotten. She will be greatly missed by all that knew her.

Graveside services will be held 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 5, 2019, at Painter Cemetery in Shell Knob, with Pastor Karty Burbridge officiating.

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