Mary K. Gilbert, 87, of Seneca, KS, died Friday, September 14, 2001, at Memorial Hospital in Abilene, KS.

She was born December 11, 1913, on a farm east of Billings, OK, the daughter of Oswald B. and Katherine O. James Taylor. At an early age, she moved with her family to a farm at Pratt Center near Tonkawa, OK. She attended grade school in Pratt Center and graduated from University Preparatory School in Tonkawa in 1929. She attended Northern Oklahoma Junior College in Tonkawa for a year and Phillips Academy in Enid, while teaching in rural schools in the area. In 1940 she graduated cum laude from Oklahoma State University at Stillwater, OK, where she also served as a dormitory consulor. Following graduation, she taught fifth grade in Blackwell, OK during the wartime boom. She later worked for the Continental Oil Company in Ponca City, OK.

On May 29, 1944, she married Dr. J. Howard Gilbert at Tonkawa. While her husband served overseas as a flight surgeon with Air Evacuation in the Army Air Corps, she taught school at Lamont, OK. In 1946 following Dr. Gilbert’s discharge from the service, they moved to Seneca where he practiced as a family physician until retirement in 1982. Dr. Gilbert died March 1, 1991.

Mary returned to teaching with the Seneca school system in the late 1960’s, initially as a substitute and later on a full-time basis. In July 1973, she was appointed Municipal Court Judge in Seneca, a position she maintained until her retirement in 1996. She also served ten years on the Kansas Municipal Court Manual Updating Committee.

Mary was an active member of the United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday School, sang in the church choir and served on the church board. She was a member of the Kansas and American Medical Association Auxiliaries and was a parliamentarian for the Kansas Auxiliary for many years. She was board member for the Seneca Public Schools during the challenging time of its unification as District #442.

Her many other community activites include co-chairing the Bicentennial Committee and being instrumental in the founding of the Nemaha County Training Center, KANZA Mental Health & Guidance Center and the Nemaha County Historical Society. She was also a member of the Seneca Woman’s Club, Chapter EH of the PEO, the Heritage Club, the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital Guild and the American Legion Auxillary, all in Seneca.

Survivors are three sons, Dr. John H. Gilbert of Topeka, KS, Paul A. Gilbert of New York City, and Dr. Frank J. Gilbert of Salina, KS; a sister, Ella Ligon of Oklahoma City, OK; and six grandchildren.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Rodney and Frank Taylor, and a sister, Leta Walker.

Funeral service will be 2 PM Monday at the United Methodist Church in Seneca. There will be a visitation from 2 to 4 PM at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Burial will be in the Seneca City Cemetery.

Memorials may be given for the United Methodist Church, the STEP Foundation or the cause of the donor’s choice.