Mary Jean (Watson) Bolin, daughter of the late Henry Homer “Dub” Watson and Ruby Mildred (Harris) Watson, was born on February 13, 1950, in Sikeston, Missouri, and departed this life on April 18, 2022, at her residence in Dexter, Missouri, at the age of 72 years.

Mary was a 1968 graduate and salutatorian of her class at Bloomfield High School, where she was a cheerleader, twirler, and played the flute in the band. She was a former secretary for the federal government working in St. Louis from 1969 to 1986. Most will remember Mary from her many years working at Southeast Health in Dexter, where she was an office manager for Dr. Jalal and Dr. Ramesh, retiring in 2019.

Mary was one of the most selfless people, always giving and thinking of others. She always had a smile on her face and loved to laugh with her family and friends. Everyone was welcome in her home and to know her was to love her. Nothing could dim the bright light that she brought to this world, even after she was diagnosed with a form of dementia.

On November 29, 1968, in Bloomfield, Missouri, she was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart, Eddie Dean Bolin. Mr. Bolin survives of their home in Dexter.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by two daughters, Nikki Gaylord and husband Chad of Murray Kentucky, and Amy Christian and husband Bruce of Dexter, Missouri; by her brother, Dr. Vance Watson of Starkville, Mississippi; by her sister, Sue Gremore of Germantown, Tennessee; and by two grandchildren, Ben Christian of Dexter, Missouri and Katie Christian of Jackson, Missouri.

Other than by her parents, she was preceded in death by her son-in-law, Ben Kruse.

Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Thursday, April 21, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, April 22, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.

Memorials may be made in memory of Ben Kruse, Mary’s late son-in-law, to The Ben Kruse 18 Fore Life Foundation, c/o Scott Kruse, 705 Laurie Circle, Dexter, Missouri 63841.

Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.