Mary Landers

Mary Slagle Landers, 91, beloved sister, aunt and friend passed away Sunday in Fort Worth, Texas.

Mary Louise Slagle was born and raised in Bruin. The youngest, and last surviving, of 11 children born to Osmer Bertis and Pearl Fletcher Slagle.

Dear sister to Marjorie Klingensmith, Dorothy Maurhoff, Enid Black, Margaret Backstatter, Pete, Bertie, Robbie, Bill, Bob and Benny Slagle.

She weighed only one pound when born and was a fighter from the beginning to the end.

During the war years, she rode her bicycle to and from Bruin and Petrolia to her job at what was the Amalie Oil Products (Sonneborn) plant.

She and her husband, Jesse D. Landers, eventually settled in Fort Worth, Texas. They both were employed with General Dynamics, Fort Worth Division. She became a widow in 1979.

Aunt Mary lived a simple, humble life. She was generous to all and a source of strength and inspiration. Each day she lived she felt she had a purpose.

Aunt Mary battled the hardships in her life with a wonderful sense of humor and an indomitable spirit. Until her eyesight no longer permitted, she kept herself busy creating wonderful “primitive folk” style paintings and crafts which we will treasure.

Aunt Mary had a hard time asking and accepting help. Her family in Texas did our best.

A special mention should be made to her nephew, Norman “Skip” Maurhoff, who made sure she had everything she needed.

We are grateful she lived independently in her own home until the last couple of weeks of her life. Her church family were a wonderful support network, visiting and bringing meals.

Her small family in Texas, her nephew, Norman Maurhoff; her great-niece, Peggy Maurhoff and her husband, Jim Vereb; her great-nephew, Mark Maurhoff and his wife, Kimber, and her great-great-nephew, Dustin Maurhoff of Tampa, Fla., will never be able to fill her absence. But we take comfort in our wonderful memories.

When there was no one — there was Mary.

Survivors include her brother-in-law, Joseph Backstatter, and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the Trinity Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 7120 W. Cleburne Road, Fort Worth, TX 76133.