Mary Simpson Ogilvie Spencer
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Mary Simpson Ogilvie Spencer, born in Glasgow, Scotland, on May 14, 1938, passed away on March 8, 2023, at John Knox Village Memory Care Unit Three, Lee’s Summit, Missouri.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 am, Thursday, March 16, 2023, in the Peculiar Cemetery, 13007 E. Cemetery Road, Peculiar, Missouri. A Graveside Celebration of Life service will be held at 1:30 pm, May 14, 2023- Mary’s 85th birthday.
Mary was born to the late Alexander Mann Ogilvie and Mary Stewart Ogilvie, a tramway motorman, and a homemaker in Glasgow. She grew up in Scotland with her two siblings, Alex and Douglas and loved to share memories of her childhood trips down the Clyde River to Rothesay.
She and her beloved, Arthur Spencer, met at a dance, and her husband said it was love at first sight. Art and Mary were united in marriage at St. James Pollok Church in Glasgow, Scotland on July 17, 1959.
Soon after, Art accepted a position in Nova Scotia (New Scotland). After arriving in Nova Scotia, Mary and Arthur lived a modest life; they met new friends and Mary would often sing for the native Scots that had moved across the pond – they loved to listen to her beautiful voice singing lore of their homeland. A few years later they moved to the United States.
Mary’s husband was employed for several major corporations and thus they lived and traveled all over the world with his jobs before retiring in Harrisonville, Missouri. In 2009, the Spencer’s moved to Raintree Lake, Lee’s Summit, MO, finally moving to John Knox Village, Lee’s Summit, MO, in 2019.
Mary loved to garden; she grew the sweetest sugar snap peas. Her garden was beautiful to behold – and one could see the love she tendered it with.
Mary and Arthur did not have children of their own; however, they had many nieces and nephews, and dear family friends that they considered their own. We are all so blessed for knowing them; for sharing life and laughter throughout their lifetime.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband Arthur on March 7, 2021. She is survived by loved family and friends. To know her was to love her. She will live forever in our hearts.
How fortunate we are to have called such a soul as hers friend and/or family and to have been exposed to her light and love. May we carry this with us always and continue to share it with the world in her stead.
We had the privilege of getting to know Art and Mary when they moved to John Knox Village in 2019. We are very grateful that we were able to be with them. Mary sang for us several times, and Art always had us laughing with his sense of humor. We were very sorry when Mary had to be moved to the Memory Care unit just prior to Art’s passing. We know that they have been re-united in Heaven, and Mary is no longer suffering. May God bless her and may she rest in peace. We will miss her.
LaWanda and Peter
This is my lovely aunt Marion (know as Marion by her family here in Scotland). She looks very happy and elegant in this photo. Growing up, I remember her telling me stories of living in different and exotic places which fascinated me and inspired me to travel. Always in our thoughts despite the distance that separated us. I’ll let her family in Scotland know of her passing. Love to all as always. Xx
My dear Aunt Marion. We were so sorry to hear of your passing.
We always loved your visits home to Scotland to see Granny and Grandpa and family and to hear about your travels with Arthur. One thing we didn’t know about was Marions beautiful singing voice which we learned form her obituary and condolences.
You will be forever in our thoughts. Love Kirsty, Alistair and Anna xx
I’m so very sorry to hear of my younger sisters passing. Her family knew her as Marion ogilvie and we were brought up initially in Uist street Govan, Glasgow above Galbraith the Grocers shop. We attended Greenfields Primary School together – myself, Marion and our older brother Alex. We later moved to the Pollok area of Glasgow and it was from there that Marion left to live abroad shortly after she married Arthur. We then attended Househillwood Primary School when we moved to Pollok. When we were young children I remember very vividly my sister and I fought like cat and dog over a green rubber elephant toy that my mother had got somewhere!! It’s funny how you remember small details like that of your childhood. I remember my sister was also very involved at st James church in pollok and attended every Sunday along with going to other social events. This is where she eventually married Arthur as they were both from this area. I also remember Marion worked in Gow’s Furniture Shop in the centre of Glasgow before moving abroad with Arthur. Always in my thoughts along with Alex.
I’m so sad to read this, I had lost contact with Mary a couple of years ago but until then had kept in touch every year since we met in Hong Kong. Mary was a beautiful person inside and out. My deepest condolences to her family 🙏❤️