Mary L. Frerking, 74, of Springfield, Missouri, passed away November 11, 2012, in James River Care Center after a courageous five-year struggle with breast cancer. She was born on January 6, 1938, in Springfield, Missouri to Louis Gelsheimer and Lorraine “Lee” Prantl.
As a single mother of two young sons, Mary began her professional career as a switchboard operator at Union National Bank/Boatmen’s Bank in 1971. She worked her way up to purchasing officer, attended night school at Drury College, and graduated with a degree in business administration in 1986. She retired in 2000 as a Vice president of Purchasing for Bank of America while maintaining 21 bank locations, the leasing and selling of bank properties, supervising all renovation, remodeling, reconstruction and interior design of facilities, purchasing all goods and services for the bank as well as managing the research and adjustment departments.
Mary was admired for her strength, elegance, beauty and, most of all, for her graciousness. She was also known for her loving, genuine, and warm personality coupled with the grace of nobility. Mary fiercely loved her sons, Michael and Mark; her devoted companion, Sidney J. Farris; and her daughter-in-law, Sarah. But most of all she adored her granddaughters, Natalie, Gabrielle and Mia.
Mary is survived by her beloved companion, Sidney J. Farris of Springfield, Missouri; sons, Mark Frerking of Los Angeles, California and Michael Frerking and wife Sarah and their daughters, Natalie Ann, Gabrielle Elizabeth and Mia Farris Frerking of Springfield, Missouri. She is also survived by her brother, Gary Gelsheimer and wife, Rita of Lincoln, Nebraska, and their children, Erica Crowley of San Francisco, California and Matthew Gelsheimer of Lenexa, Kansas.
A Memorial Celebration Service will be held Friday, November 16, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. in Campbell United Methodist Church in Springfield. Visitation will be held in Greenlawn Funeral Home East, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, November 15, 2012.
Flowers may be sent to Greenlawn Funeral Home, 3540 E Seminole, Springfield, MO 65809 or memorial donations may be made to the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks (www.bcfo.org).
Mary L. Frerking