Mary Alice Harkness was born May 24, 1920, near Delevan, the daughter of Archibald and Ella (Burns) Harkness. Mary attended and graduated from Grandview Grade School and Delevan High School. She was baptized into the Christian faith on Aug. 10, 1930, at Herington.
After completing high school, Mary attended Emporia State Teachers College for a year, earning a 60-hour teaching certificate. She began her approximately 40-year teaching career in a one-room school house, riding her horse to and from school.
On April 6, 1944, Mary was united in marriage to Arthur Edward Haefner of Lost Springs at St. John’s Lutheran Church. This marriage was blessed with 46 years of companionship and two children — a daughter, Barbara Jane, and a son, Keith Arthur.
On July 2, 1944, Mary was confirmed in her Christian faith at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lincolnville. She remained a member of the congregation until her death.
Mary interrupted her teaching career for a few years until both of the children were in school. Two days after Keith started school, she received a call from one of the local school districts asking her to teach a class for which a teacher had not shown up to teach. That began night and summer school sessions at Emporia State for the next 15 years until she completed her master’s degree in 1969. She continued to teach full time during those years. Mary continued to teach until her retirement in May 1985.
Her family and her teaching were the joys of her life.
On Sat., Jan. 1, 2011, Mary passed at Salem Home in Hillsboro. She was 90 years, 7 months, and 8 days of age.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Art, in 1990; her parents; her brother, Milan Harkness; and two infant grandson, Thomas Arthur and Arch John Haefner.
Mary is survived by her daughter, Barbara Schwarz and husband William of Mansfield, Texas; a son, Keith of Sawyer; grandchildren, Tricia Treude and husband Don and Bart Stites and wife Lisa; great-grandchildren, Rachel Treude and Jacob Truede; and many cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends.
The funeral was at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 7, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Lincolnville, with the Rev. Alan Stahlecker officiating.
Interment followed at Lincolnville Cemetery.
A memorial has been established with Salem Home of Hillsboro in care of Zeiner Funeral Home, 205 Elm St, Marion KS 66861.