Mary's obituary
Mary Ann (Honerkamp) Hale passed away on Monday, January 9, 2022. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank and youngest son, Mick (WA) in 2022.
Mary Ann was born in Bonne Terre, MO, November 1935 to Joseph Alvin and Annabelle (Fink) Honerkamp.
She was the eldest of eleven children and is survived by three brothers, Kenny Honerkamp of Springfield, MO, Gary Honerkamp and Ron(Karen) Honerkamp of Farmington, MO.
Mary Ann was raised in Farmington, MO. She was a popular and scrappy champion volleyball player. At age 22, she traveled to San Francisco, California and worked as a telephone operator. She enjoyed California culture immensely with friends and distant relatives. She met Frank in 1956 and in 1958, they eloped to Reno, NV. They decided to return to Missouri in 1965, where they ultimately raised six children.
Mary Ann’s surviving children are Dan Hale-AR, Teri Hale-CT, Kathy (Hale) Doby-TX; Debbie Hale-OH; and Leslie (Hale) Jordan, MO.
Mary Ann also had five grandchildren; Lauren, Cameron, Derek, Alexia, Wolfgang and Haley(deceased) as well as four great-grandchildren.
Mary Ann, the sole provider for her family, worked at Farmington Community Hospital in the Medical Records Department from 1974 until 2002. Mary Ann enjoyed baking, drinking coffee, chain-smoking, Dallas Cowboys and crocheting afghans. She attended many local auctions and rummage sales, filling rooms with dolls, any condition and any size.
Mary traveled to Connecticut following her husbands death and ultimately resided in Hebrew Healthcare center, West Hartford CT. She lived on a unit designed for those with advanced dementia. Her environment was safe and kind with understanding staff members. She loved her meals, especially the sweets.
Although she could be contentious, Mary Ann would hold and feed her baby dolls and tell stories, mentioning siblings and parents. She recognized no one from her past but was keenly aware of her surroundings. She would wheel into rooms, and pick up items like she was at a tag sale, competing with other residents for the “best deal.” Her smile and laugh always remained infectious.
Mary Ann died peacefully in her sleep with a babe in her arms. She will be cremated and interred at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, MO.