Mary E. Wendland, 95, died June 15, 2007, at Hester Care Center.

She was born Sept. 1, 1911, in rural Lyndon, the daughter of LaForrest and Annie Peterson Elliott. She was a 1928 graduate of Lyndon High School and attended Kansas State Teachers College, Emporia, to prepare herself to teach in a rural school. Her early schools were in rural Osage County, where she taught all grades. Later in life she became a substitute teacher. She was a resident of Hutchinson since 1956.

She was a member of Emanuel Lutheran Church.

On Nov. 27, 1935, she married Henry G. Wendland in Topeka. He died Oct. 30, 2002.

Survivors include: a son, Henry "Hank" LaForrest and wife, Susan, Tampa, Fla.; a daughter, Mary Anne Clark and husband, Ron, Council Grove; a grandson, Greg Clark and wife, Patti, Wichita; two step-grandchildren, Ted Melo, Tampa, Fla., and Suzanne Leigh, Atlanta, Ga.; and nine step-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by two sisters, Clara "Babe" Christesen and Wilmah Powell.

Memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Elliott Chapel, with Pastor Loren Mai presiding. Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Cremation has taken place.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Hospice Care of Kansas, the Good Samaritan Fund at Wesley Towers or Emanuel Lutheran Church Mission Endowment Fund, all in care of the mortuary.