Mary E. Atwood Hampton

April 5, 1919 - October 1, 2015

Mrs. Mary E. Atwood Hampton, 96, of Louisiana, Missouri passed away Thursday, October 1, 2015 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 10, 2015 at the Collier Funeral Home in Louisiana, Missouri. The Rev. Pat Glenn will officiate. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, October 9th at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery near Louisiana. She was born April 5, 1919 in Wardell, Missouri to James Alonzo and Ophelia Cheek Atwood. She married Edwin K. Hampton on December 25, 1938. Together, they had four children; Mary Ann Anderson (Charles Roy, Jr.), Kearney, M0; Harriet S. Barber (Russell), Louisiana, M0; Janice K. Green; and Edwin Kevin Hampton, Cape Girardeau, M0; five grandchildren, Susan Anderson-Jones (Kathy), Kearney, M0, Charles R. Anderson III (Jenny), Kearney, M0, Laura Shellhorse (Mark), Bowling Green, M0; Jarrod Green (Tammi), Pittsfield, IL, Heather Barber (Tim), Louisiana, M0, 11 great grandchildren, 3 great, great grandchildren and one brother, Charles Atwood (Ann), Riverview, FL. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Ed, of 67 years, one daughter, Janice Kaye Green, three brothers, Lawrence Atwood, Lonnie Atwood and Walter Atwood and two sisters, Martha Knight and Ruth Watson. Mrs. Hampton attended Wardell High School. She continued her education, earning an Associate of Arts degree from Hannibal-La Grange College and a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Northeast Missouri State University. She began her teaching career in the Pattonville School District, (Pattonville, M0), and also taught in the Curryville (M0) School District, the Bevier (M0) School District, the Frankford (M0) School District and the Louisiana R-II School District, in a career that spanned 32 years. She joined her husband in his call to Christian Ministry, and together, they served over 44 years in 11 Baptist churches across Northeast and Eastern Missouri. Mrs. Hampton served in a variety of leadership roles at each church where she was a member; teaching Sunday School classes, leading Vacation Bible School, as well as choral directing and service accompaniment through Music Ministry. She and her husband were also partners in missionary work to Taiwan. Mrs. Hampton was a member of the First Baptist Church in Louisiana, M0. Mrs. Hampton enjoyed a vibrant and fulfilling life. Her travels took her from Southeast Asia, to Canada and Europe, including several trips to Alaska and Hawaii. In her later years, she lived in Savannah, GA before returning to her home state to be nearer her family with whom she loved to spend time. She was a life-long learner and particularly enjoyed reading subject matter related to science, space exploration and oceanography. Mrs. Hampton was an avid gardener and loved to work in her flowers. She also adored solving puzzles—jigsaw, crossword and word finds-and loved to use her iPad. As a woman of faith, her life touched many people. She was and extraordinary example of love, compassion and service. Honorary pallbearers are; Charles C. Atwood, Charles Roy Anderson, Jr., Russell W. Barber and Croy Anderson. Active pallbearers are; Charles Anderson III, Jarrod Green, Tim Booth, Mark Shellhorse, Brian Shellhorse, Robby Heigl and Jake Anderson-Jones. Memorials may be given to the Hampton Educational Scholarship Fund (Bank of Louisiana), the Stained Glass Window Fund at First Baptist Church, Louisiana, M0, or Fairview Cemetery (Louisiana, M0), or donor’s choice.