Oct. 31, 1956 ~ Sept. 17, 2019

Mary Laird, loving wife to David Laird and devoted mother of Katie and Lauren, lost her battle with acute myeloid leukemia on September 17, 2019.

Mary was born on Oct. 31, 1956, in Mt. Vernon, IA, to Franklin and Shirley Langdon Brown. Her family moved to Independence in 1968. She graduated from Van Horn High School in 1974 and attended the University of Missouri.

While raising her daughters, Mary volunteered on numerous boards and commissions in Lee’s Summit. She also served on the Lee’s Summit Parks and Recreation Board (1998-2009) and City Council (1997-1998). Her grace and grit helped influence the growth and focus of today’s Lee’s Summit Parks and Recreation Department. She was passionate about her work at the Mid-America Regional Council, where she had worked since 2003. Mary was loved by many and will be greatly missed.

Mary is survived by her husband David of the home; daughters Katie Shaw and Lauren Hawkins (Travis) of Jacksonville, FL; sister Sarah Shepherd (Ted), Hinsdale, IL; brothers David Brown, Ft. Lauderdale, and Jeffrey Brown; in-laws Robert and Carole Laird; and many nephews and nieces. 

A graveside service will be held at the Lee’s Summit Historical Cemetery at noon on Oct. 1.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the University of Kansas Cancer Center, made payable to The University of Kansas Health System, Fund Development, 2330 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Suite 305, Westwood, KS 66205 or online at www.kansashealthsystem.com/giving. Donations made in memory of Mary will go toward the hospital’s Blood & Marrow Transplant Fund.