Mary Virginia Mize

Mary was born November 25, 1929 in Kansas City, Missouri to George Daniel Stout and Marie Antionette Clevidence Stout. Her father was a partner at Jack Henry Clothing Company until his death in 1953.

Mary graduated from Southwest High School in 1947. She went on to the University of Kansas, where she became a member of the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. There she met and married Fred LeRoy Firner in 1949.

In1950, Mary and Fred welcomed their daughter, Francie Firner Stoner, and in 1953 they welcomed a son, Mark David Firner. They divorced in 1967. In 1977, she married George Howard Mize, her beloved husband of 27 years. He preceded her in death in 2004. She was also preceded in death by her mother in 1959 and her son, Mark David Firner, in 1997.

Mary spent 28 years working at Jack Henry Clothiers – 18 of those years as the “Hat Lady of Kansas City”, managing and buying men’s hats for the store. She worked in the Women’s Department for 10 years after that, proudly outfitting Cerner’s Vision Center Team in the most professional attire.

Mary was a friend to all and one of the greatest networkers of all time. She was 95 years old with no filter and everyone she met felt their lives were better because of her. She always had a beautifully bright (and likely red) smile on her face. She knew everyone by name and everything they had ever told her about themselves. She never left home without quaffed hair, makeup on, and dressed to the nines with coordinated jewelry from head to toe – she loved a good sparkle. Even during the Covid Family Zoom calls, she was perfectly put together before she joined. And when she left those Zoom calls, she would announce very loudly, “I’m leaving the meeting!”. She loved life and loved people and everyone loved her. She will be greatly missed. She treasured her many friends and family and is thankful for their loving support and many kindnesses through the years.

Mary enjoyed delving into genealogy and after years of extensive research, she traced her lineage to the Mayflower and became a member of the Kansas Mayflower Society. This also led to her involvement with Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and Colonial Dames of America (CDA). She has always been an active participant in the organizations she belonged to, having served as president of Gamma Phi Beta Alumnae Association and PEO Chapter IV twice, Regent of the Westport Chapter DAR, Treasurer and Historian for Chapter XIII Colonial Dames of America, as well as many activities at her beloved St. Michael and all Angels Episcopal Church. At St. Michael’s she was a Daughter of the King, a member of the Altar Guild, and a staunch evangelizer of new members, dinner groups, and special events. For many years, she was known as the “Kitchen Czar” protecting her prized kitchen at St. Michael’s.

She is survived by her daughter, Francie (Bill) Stoner; granddaughters Amy (Kent) Fincham and Marilyn (Ryan) Wiesehan; great-grandchildren, Mark and Anna Wiesehan, Gabby and Burke Fincham.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at 11:00 am at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church 6630 Nall Ave. Mission, Kansas. Everyone is encouraged to wear brightly colored clothes (Mary preferred red) with as much bling as you can find. Tiaras are perfect! The inurnment of ashes in the Garden will follow the service. After the inurnment, the party begins. Mary's favorite barbecue lunch will be shared. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church (https://www.stmaa.com/) or Residential Hospice Foundation (https://residentialhospicefoundation.org/) or the charity of your choice.

We never know when our last breath will be taken and you can never say I love you too much. Hug the special people in your life and share your blessings.