Mary Ellen Skillman, 78, Waverly, died on April 29, 2021, at her daughter's house in rural Reading, Kansas surrounded by her family.

Mary was born on June 14, 1942, in Gillespie, Illinois, to Clarence and Edna Settles Hopper.

Mary moved to live with her aunt in Wichita after high school and started her nursing career.

On April 4, 1964, she married Larry Skillman in Wichita. They were the parents of three sons and three daughters.

She paused her desire for nursing to be a homemaker and was dedicated to raising her children. She later went back to school and graduated from Flint Hills Technical College as a LPN. She worked at several area nursing homes. As she transitioned out of nursing she began working at Silver Threads & Golden Needles where she was able to share her love of sewing. She loved to bowl and was a league bowler for many years.  She immensely enjoyed traveling around the surrounding counties to watch her grandkids various sports activities. She was known throughout the community for her hugs.

She was a member of the New Strawn Community Christian Church at New Strawn. She had been an active member of the #4 Club.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Roger and Mike Hopper.

Mary is survived by her husband, Larry, of the home, three sons, Brian (Melodie), Haysville, Alan (Brenda), El Dorado, and Dale (Kourtney), Olathe, three daughters, Carol (Rick) Lounsbury, Eudora, Amy (John) Carlson, Overland Park, and Gina (Matt) Peek, Reading, her brothers, Arthur, Paul, and David Hopper, her sisters, Virginia Spears, Rose Adams, Ruth Jett, and Lisa (Greg) Roach, Sr., 22 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services for Mary will be 10:30 A.M., Friday, May 7, 2021, at the Jones Funeral Home. The family will receive friends on Thursday, 6:30 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Burial will  be in the Stringtown Cemetery. Contributions can be made to the Mary Skillman Nursing Scholarship or New Strawn Community Christian Church and may be sent in care of Jones Funeral Home, P.O. Box 277, Burlington, KS 66839.