Mary Ada (Marshall) Wade

Mary Ada (Marshall) Wade, 84 formally from Harlan, passed away on Wednesday December 27, 2023 at the Blue Hills Rest Home in Independence Missouri surrounded with family. She was born August 16,1957 at home in Mondamin Iowa to Henry “Carl” and Florence Marshall. Mary grew up in Mondamin and Modale graduating with the Modale High School class of 1957.  Her first job was secretary to the principal at the school. After the Modale School burned, her job was to sort through all the burned records to salvage as much as possible. On August 18, 1957, Mary married Leonard Wade at the Modale Methodist Church. They had 6 children and lived mostly in Mondamin and Harlan Iowa.  She always kept busy taking care of her kids and household.  She walked beans every summer for 20 years (forcing her kids to go with her). When they moved into Harlan in 1979, she began working full time as a waitress.  She waitressed at Ember’s in Avoca, IA  for 40 years.  She loved her customers so much; she didn’t want to retire!

She loved a lot of things over the years, including, card games, collecting cardinal figurines, Creighton basketball, Chief’s football, diet coke, and country music especially Mel Mcdaniel. Mary and Leonard followed Mel all over the Midwest enjoying his music.  Mary’s children teased her saying she loved Mel more than her kids 🙂

Anyone who knew Mary knows she loved shopping for stuff for her house and yard. She loved Harlequin books, Hallmark movies, motorcycle rides with her sons, kids, grandkids and grand dogs.  Especially when her grand dog Abba would visit her at the nursing home!

She did a lot of traveling with her kids over the years including, Maine, California, Tennessee, New Mexico, Oregon, and Ireland and a Bahamas cruise which was probably not the best choice for someone who wears blue jeans all the time. As Mel would sing “baby’s got her blue jeans on”.  Nobody was a stranger to her.  Everywhere she went she always found someone to talk to. She was one of the nicest people you could ever meet a loving wife and mother.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Florence Marshall, husband Leonard, brothers Harold Marshall and Howard Marshall, son Dennis Wade, brother-in-law Larry Hammer, sister-in-law Lois Marshall and sister-in-law Pat Marshall.  She is survived by her children Debbie (John) Furst, Independence, MO, Daniel (Gayle) Wade, Overland Park, KS, Douglas (Donna) Wade, Overland Park, KS, DeeDee (Terry Lally) Denison, IA and Deanna (Jason Flack) Paola, KS. And siblings Norma Jean Hammer (Larry Guttau) Mondamin, IA, and Richard (Syd) Marshall of Modale, IA.  She is survived by 13 Grandchildren: Dennis Wade Jr of Texas, Kirstie Wade of Omaha, NE, Crystal (Tony) Domann, Independence, MO, Michael (Jennifer) Andersen, Independence, MO, Brandy Kunkle (Phill King), Blue Springs, MO, Danny Wade and Kimmy (Michael) McDowell of Texas, Jessica (Michael) Paustian of KC, MO, Kristina (Chris) Salinas, Olathe, KS, Jessi Gregg and Autumn Gregg of Paola, KS and Anthony (Jess) Wade of Harlan, IA. Mary had 17 great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and friends.