Mary Frances Bush

Mary Frances (Maddox) Bush, 97, passed away August 27, 2016 at Ridgeview Care Center, Oblong, IL, where she had been a resident for 6 months. She was born on her grandfather’s farm south of Palestine on September 14, 1918, to Florence (Martin) and Lloyd Maddox, both of whom preceded her in death. She attended Palestine schools and graduated from Palestine High School in 1936. After high school, she went to secretarial school in Chicago and returned to Palestine where she worked for the lumber yard and Farmer’s State Bank. On February 3, 1946, she married Lester L. Bush, who preceded her in death. In 1965, she began working in the Palestine school system, first as the grade school librarian, then as the grade school secretary and the superintendent’s secretary, before retiring after several years of service. She was active in the First Presbyterian Church, Palestine, where she was honored last year on the 85th anniversary of joining the church. In her retirement, she much enjoyed her volunteer work at the Palestine Library. She was a strong woman whose love for her Savior and her family was unwavering. In addition to her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by her brother, Richard B. Maddox. She is survived by her son, Joseph S. Bush (Evansville, IN); her daughter & son-in-law, Mary Louise & Bill Sier (Manhattan, KS); two grandchildren, Andrew Sier (Manhattan, KS), and Rachel Sier (Boulder, CO); and several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 31st at the Goodwine Funeral Home in Palestine. A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 1st at the Palestine First Presbyterian Church, with Pastor Karen Russell officiating the service. Burial will follow in the Palestine Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Palestine Library or to the Palestine First Presbyterian Church, with envelopes available at the funeral home.