Mary Elizabeth Cole Gencur

Oct 14, 2014 | Obituaries, Obituaries 2014 | 1 comment

Mary Elizabeth Cole Gencur, 91, of Leawood, Kansas passed away October 12, 2014. Her life will be celebrated Friday, October 17th at Village Presbyterian Church; 6641 Mission Rd, Prairie Village, KS 66208. A visitation will be held at 1:00 PM with the funeral service immediately following at 2:00 PM. She will be laid to rest after the service at Mt. Moriah Cemetery, alongside her beloved husband of 50 years, the late Rudy R. Gencur.

She was a vibrant, generous woman, selflessly devoting time and energy to the Leawood Welcomers, Leawood Women’s Club and Village Church Women’s Group. She helped support numerous human and animal-welfare groups, environmental causes and political candidates as well as local and national charitable organizations.

Born May 5, 1923 in Detroit, MI, Mary was the oldest of three daughters born to the late James Henry Cole and Eva May Townsend. At the age of twelve, she assumed the role of matriarch, due to the untimely death of her mother. She helped raise two younger sisters, Jean Cole and Joan Phillips, who survive her.

Mary and Rudy were avid golfers, travelers and original members of Leawood South Country Club.

Mary was a well-read sports enthusiast, Kansas City Chiefs Season Ticket holder for over thirty-years and was in attendance to see the Chiefs victory in Super Bowl IV.

She loved to play bridge and cherished those groups of friendships and gatherings until her final days.

In her early years, Mary worked for Ford Motor Company and Kaiser- Fraser, a company that made airplanes during World War II. After Rudy retired, they co-founded and successfully operated RUMAR, a vehicle locating service for Ford Dealers.

Mary is survived by two children: Jim Gencur of Overland Park, Kansas, Gail Gencur Dicus and husband Jim Yarrington of Leawood, Kansas.

She also leaves behind four grandchildren: Kimberly Gencur Svaty and husband, Josh Svaty of Topeka, Kansas, Brett Dicus and wife Angie Dicus of Brooklyn, New York, Adam Dicus of Knoxville, Tennessee, Caroline Mead and wife Piper Mead of Highwood, Illinois; step-grandchildren: Zachary Yarrington of Portland, Oregon and Travis Yarrington of Detroit, Michigan; and six great-grandchildren: Jackson, Mariner and Evelyn Svaty, Henry and Lilian Dicus and Clayton Mead.

Mary is also survived by her nieces and nephews, Karen Bulmer of Colorado, Nancy Gencur Gamalski of Rochester Hills, Michigan, Jimmy Phillips of Florida, Paul Gencur of Ann Arbor, Michigan and Tom Pyuro of Plymouth, Michigan.

She was a cherished mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend, setting a fine example for future generations.

Until the end, Mary lived independently, shopped for her own groceries and entertained in her home. She loved the Today Show, CNN and CSPAN and political debates.

Those who knew and loved Mary will cherish the memories of her quick and ready smile, willingness to pitch in and help, compassion for the less fortunate, and above all, her love of family, faith and Village Presbyterian Church. The family would like to thank UM Church of the Resurrection for their kindness during this time and the KC Hospice House for their wonderful attention. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Village Presbyterian Church, or Gift of Life; 6405 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66202.

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Lesley Phillips

8 years ago

Mary is joining God’s team of Angels & will add a touch of class to heaven. God bless her family.

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