Mary Elaine Wagner, daughter of the late Bruce Edward Gant and Beulah Mae Maskell Gant, was born on October 18, 1950 on the family’s farm in Dudley, Missouri. She departed this life on July 4, 2023, on that same farm, at the age of 72 years.
Mrs. Wagner was a graduate of Dexter High School where she was the valedictorian of the Class of 1968. Following high school, she attended college Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She completed her education at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy in St. Louis, Missouri. After graduation she became a Registered Pharmacist for St. Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and was quickly promoted to Director of Pharmacy for the medical center. She was recruited early into the medical software field which led her to Winter Park Florida, where she lived from 1983 to 2022. She later returned to pharmacy practice, working for Walgreens until her retirement.
She met her future husband, Edward Wagner of Cheyenne, Wyoming while working at St. Francis Hospital. They were united in marriage in 1976. He preceded her in death in 2001.
Mary’s life was lived in the service and caring of other people. Her friends and family knew her to have warm and generous spirit providing support and help to anyone who needed her. Mary also enjoyed and collected beautiful things such as antique furniture, pottery and stained glass. She was a lover of all animals, especially her dogs and cats. She embraced her Florida lifestyle with many trips to the coasts to enjoy the ocean and walks along the beach. New Smyrna Beach, Florida was among her favorite destinations and the family has many great memories with her there.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents Marvin and Mary Jane Gant of Dudley, Missouri and Donald and Harriet (Hattie) Maskell of Washburn, Maine; by her parents Bruce Edward and Beulah Mae Gant of Dudley, Missouri; and by her sister, Sylvia Gay Gant of Dudley, Missouri.
She is survived by her brother Richard Dennis Gant and sister-in-law Arvella (Tracy) (Wilson) Gant of Dexter, Missouri and their son Chris Eric Holcomb of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She is also survived by her sister Donna Maxine (Gant) Barker, of Dudley Missouri; by her niece Janelle (Barker) Gibson of Webster Groves, Missouri; and by her great nephew Gant Hunter Gibson and great niece Mary Genevieve Gibson of Webster Groves, Missouri.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Saturday, July 8, 2023, from 4:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
