Mary J. Markley

Mrs. Mary Jean (Harper) Markley, 86, of Elkhart, passed to her rest, Monday morning, August 1, 2022 in the comfort of her home, surrounded by her family. Mary was born on December 2, 1935 in Chicago to the late Sam and Lillian Patricia “Pat” (Graham) Harper. She married her true love and best friend Robert Lee “Bob” Markley on May 14, 1955 in Plymouth, Indiana. They both loved dancing and listening to Big Band music. He swept her off her feet and they been dancing and loving each other for 67 wonderful years. Surviving is her husband, Robert Markley, four loving daughters, Linda (Dr. Norman) Bryan, Jean (Brian) Morse, Dr. Barbara Markley and significant other Alex Colella, and Peggy (Andy) Graves. Mary was a loving wife, mother, and friend to many. She formerly trained and worked for a few years as a laboratory Technician at South Bend Medical Foundation. Mary was born in Chicago, but raised in Queens New York until the age of 12, where she learned to love dance, ballet and tap dancing. Mary relocated to Plymouth, and graduated from Plymouth High School, where she was an exceptional softball player. She loved to make things with her hands, doing crafts, sewing, quilting, and making Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls. She was a woman of faith and attended St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Goshen.

Private family visitation, services and burial will be held, officiated by the Rev. Benjamin Landrigan of St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church She will be laid to rest in Frame Cemetery, Elkhart. Rev. Benjamin Landrigan. Arrangements are under the care of Billings Funeral Home, Elkhart. Memorials donations for Mary are kindly requested to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 840692, Dallas, TX. 75284 or Goshen Center for Cancer Care, 200 High Park Ave, Goshen, IN 46526. Condolences may be made online at www.billingsfuneralhome.com

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