Born: April 22, 1943

Died: Feb. 28, 2013

Mary Kathryn (Wright) Slack, 69, of North Fort Myers, Fla., and Edwardsburg passed away peacefully in the company of her family at 3:30 a.m. on Feb. 28, 2013, at Hope Hospice at Shell Point, Fort Myers, after a five-year battle with cancer.

Mary was born to the late John and Ione Wright on April 22, 1943, in Elkhart, Ind.  She graduated from White Pigeon High School and married her high school sweetheart, Richard Eddy Slack. On Oct. 13, 2012, Richard and Mary celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Mary and Richard built a home in Edwardsburg, where they owned their own businesses and raised their two children. Prior to working with her husband as vice president of Art Slack Company Inc./Wilube Chemical, Mary worked as a secretary for First Commercial Savings Bank in Edwardsburg.

Mary was active in many organizations and was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Edwardsburg Chapter #476; past president of Singapore Yacht Club Auxiliary in Saugatuck; treasurer of Sigma Phi Gamma International Sorority Omega Province Local Chapter Xi Lambda in Fort Myers, Fla.; and social director of the Admiralty Yacht Club in Fort Myers, Fla. She and her husband were avid boaters and were greatly involved in the Singapore Yacht and Riviera Yacht Clubs and Lake

Michigan Yachting Association. Mary enjoyed traveling, reading, snowmobiling and spending time with her grandchildren in whom she had great pride. She was also a big football and NASCAR/Indy Car racing fan.

Mary will be greatly missed by family and friends. She is survived by her husband of more than 50 years, Richard E. Slack, of North Fort Myers, Fla., and Edwardsburg; two loving children, son, Brian (Kimberly) Slack, of Edwardsburg; daughter, Deborah (Charles) Bedard, of Portage; four grandchildren, Leon Bedard, Kirsten Slack, Valerie Bedard and Kyle Slack; two sisters, Janet (Gary) Smith, of

Shipshewana, Ind., and Sharon Demske of Portage; four brothers, Owen (Sharon) Wright and John (Jane) Wright, of Edwardsburg, Paul (Melody) Wright, of Winona Lake, Ind., Ivan (Jackie) Wright of White Pigeon; brother- in-law, Thurman (Joyce) Slack of Georgetown, Texas; along with many nieces and nephews. Mary was preceded in death by one brother, Walter Wright.

Family and friends will gather from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 14, 2013, in Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, 202 N. Broadway St., Cassopolis, with an Eastern Star service at 6 p.m. under the auspices of O.E. S. Edwardsburg Chapter #476. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 15, 2013, in Edwardsburg Presbyterian Church, 68961 Lake St., Edwardsburg, with the Rev. David Lenz officiating. Mary Slack will be laid to rest in Adamsville Cemetery.

The family prefers memorial contributions to Edwardsburg Sports Complex, Post Office Box 193, Edwardsburg, Michigan 49112.

A separate memorial service will be held in North Fort Myers, Fla., at a time and date to be announced.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis. Online condolences may be posted at wagnercares.com.