Mary Emily (Perisho) Lilly Obituary (1937 - 2011)

Mary Emily (Perisho) Lilly, 73, died February 13, 2011. She was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa, on April 27, 1937, to Ermin and Ruth (Coffin) Perisho. She graduated from Wyandotte High School in 1955, earned her bachelor's degree in English from Friends University in Wichita, Kan., and her master's degree in English from Kansas State University. She taught at Wichita Heights High School and Friends University before her marriage to Loren Lilly on June 4, 1965. She and her husband worked together as missionaries at Kickapoo Friends Center in Oklahoma. They later moved to Kansas and Indiana where she worked in the home. She was active at Rural Friends Meeting serving as pianist and Sunday school teacher for more than 25 years. She was also very involved in the United Society of Friends Women. She is survived by her husband, Loren; and her three children, Deborah, Brian and Michele. A service to celebrate Mary Emily's life will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, February 17, 2011, at Thomas Memorial Chapel of Lynn, Ind., with Pastor Joe Merrill officiating. Burial will follow in Spartanburg Cemetery of Spartanburg, Ind. Family and friends may gather to share and remember from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, February 16, at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Rural Friends U.S.F.W. in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be expressed at www.wilsonshookfuneralhomes.com.