Mary Alberta Capsey Sourk, of Goff, Kansas, died peacefully at the age of 96 on Wednesday evening, October 10, 2012 at Crestview Manor care home in Seneca.

Mary was born on May 8, 1916, on the Capsey family farm north of Soldier to W.H. “Major” and Ella Marie Forest Cook Capsey. She attended Mount Union Country School and graduated in 1934 from Soldier High School. Her mother died when she was 14 years old and she and her sisters helped their father raise the younger siblings. Mary learned to drive on her father’s Model A.

She married William Ward Sourk on October 22, 1934 in Leavenworth. The couple celebrated their anniversary annually by attending American Royal events in Kansas City. Mary and Ward made their home three-and-a-half miles north of Goff. While their home was being built they lived in a one-room cottage, which still sits on the property. From that one-room cottage Mary prepared meals for 35 Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) boys who planted a wind break on the property.

Mary and Ward enjoyed attending Kansas State University football and basketball games, for which they had season tickets. The couple raised sheep and cattle. During the Depression years, Mary raised chickens and sold eggs and cream to make extra money for household expenses.

Her husband became a Board Director of the First National Bank of Goff after his father’s death and served in that capacity from 1940 to 1979, and as the Bank President from 1965 to 1979. Mary became a widow on August 12, 1979. After Ward’s death Mary held shares in the bank until 2007. Mary stayed on the farm and continued to operate the farmland and cattle herd with the help of her son, Edward, until her death.

Mary was an asset to her community and church. Mary taught Sunday School and served as an officer for the United Methodist Woman of Goff United Methodist Church. She also served on the Administrative Church Board. She was a member of the Goff chapter of Eastern Star for 65 years, and served as Worthy Matron. She was a member of the Goff Pride Committee and the Corning Unit club.

Mary was active in 4-H, beginning with the enrollment of her oldest daughter into the Rustlers Club. She was a Rustlers Project Leader for 34 years and the Community Leader for 19 years. She worked for 4-H through the Extension Council as a superintendent at the County 4-H Fairs, and in 1999 was named Grand Marshall of the Nemaha County Fair Parade. The Sourk family sponsored an annual Nemaha County 4-H participant to the Citizenship Washington Focus. Mary was a supporter of many community organizations, including the county Extension program where she was member of the Homemakers Unit for 50 years, and represented the Extension programs on the multi-county Glacial Hills RC & D. She served over 30 years on the county chapter of the American Cancer Society and was on the Board of the Nemaha County Historical Society.

She was a life-long member of the So & So Club, an organization started by her mother. She was a 70-year member of the GFWC Goff Women’s Club and a member of the district GFWC Kansas Rainbow Club. In 1979 she was GFWC First District President. Mary also served as the District Citizenship Pilgrimage Chairman, District Art Chairman, and State HOBY Chairman.

Mary was a strong independent woman to whom family meant a great deal, and until her health prohibited, had a weekly Friday luncheon with her siblings. In the family, Mary was well-known for her Parker House dinner rolls and her delicious pies. After Ward’s death, Mary enjoyed traveling with family and friends, traveling to Europe, a Hawaiian cruise, numerous GFWC Mississippi Valley and National Conventions, and lastly traveling at the age of 92 to Playa de Flamingos Beach of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for her granddaughter’s wedding.

Besides her husband, Mary was preceded in death by two grandsons, Douglas Stephens and Steven Rowland; siblings, Nora Helen Allen Monroe, Maurine McCorkle, Kenneth Capsey and Georgena Miller; and son-in-law, Norman Stephens.

She will be missed by her children, Mary Lee Stephens of Americus, Virginia Cook of Parsons and Ed (Helen) Sourk of Hiawatha; grandchildren, David Stephens, Brian Stephens, Donald Stephens, Ted Rowland, Susan Richards, Sara Sourk, Grant Sourk and Luke Sourk; 10 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchild; and siblings, Lela Kroh of Kansas City, Betty Rieschick of Soldier, and Edwina Pollock of Holton.

A visitation will be held from 4 to 7 PM on Sunday, October 14, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Funeral service for Mary will be at 2 PM on Monday, October 15, at the funeral home. She will be laid to rest next to her husband Ward in Fairview Cemetery in Goff.

Memorials may be given in Mary’s memory for the Mary Sourk Memorial Fund, to be used for the benefit of the community, sent in care of Lauer Funeral Home, 212 S. 4th Street, Seneca, KS 66538.