Born: April 22, 1943

Died: Feb. 28, 2013

Mary Kathryn Slack, 69

Mary Kathryn (Wright) Slack, age 69, of North Fort Myers, Fla., and Edwardsburg, passed away peacefully in the company of her family at 3:30 a.m. 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, Michigan; Treasurer of Sigma Phi Gamma International Sorority Omega Province Local Chapter Xi Lambda in Fort Myers; and Social Director of the Admiralty Yacht Club in Fort Myers. 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 over 50 years, Richard E. Slack of North Fort Myers and Edwardsburg, Michigan; 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, Michigan; 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 until 8 p.m. Thursday 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. Friday in Edwardsburg Presbyterian Church, 68961 Lake St., Edwardsburg, with the Reverend David Lenz officiating. Mary Slack will be laid to rest in Adamsville Cemetery.

The family prefers memorial contributions to Edwardsburg Sports Complex, P.O. Box 193, Edwardsburg, MI 49112.

A separate Memorial Service will be held in North Fort Myers, Florida 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