Mary Elizabeth Wilson

Mary Elizabeth “Beth” Wilson, 79, of Kansas City, Kansas passed away peacefully on March 13, 2025, after entering General Inpatient Hospice Care at KU Medical Center. Nine days prior, Beth suffered a significant, hemorrhage brain-bleed stroke. Her loving husband, Bob and daughters, Debbie and Laura stayed by her side.                                                                                                                                                                                      Mary Beth was born on December 28th, 1945 to Betty (Zugecic) and John Kluck of Kansas City, Kansas. She graduated from Bishop Ward High School in 1963. On May 2nd, 1964, Beth went to her dear friend, Janie’s wedding. That night, Bob, who was home on leave from the Army, came home from his sister’s wedding and told his mom he met the girl he was going to marry. When Bob got out of the army that same summer, he and Beth began dating. On May 28th, 1965, Beth and Bob got married. They lived in Kansas City, Houston, Omaha, and Phoenix before coming back to Kansas City, Kansas for their forever home.                                                                                                                                                                Beth was a strong advocate of seeing her daughters succeed and was present at every event her girls participated in. She was incredibly proud of them and their accomplishments. She was a stay at home mom and wife until their youngest daughter entered first grade. She worked at Eisenhower Middle School in KCK for 30 years. Over those 30 years, she worked as an aide in the Resource Room, as a Librarian Secretary, and finally as a Registrar and Counselors’ Secretary. She was a go-to person across the district and at Eisenhower. If people were unsure, they would end the conversation with, “Let’s ask Beth.” She was a second mom and grandma to hundreds at that school and loved by all. She had a gift to make people feel loved and special.                                                                                                                                                                            Beth believed the greatest gift she could give was her time and attention to those she loved. She taught many what it felt like to truly be loved unconditionally. Her grandchildren, Akiume Butner and Rosie Porras, were her true pride and joy. She loved listening to both grandkids play their music. She passionately encouraged her grandchildren’s activities, from flying airplanes to playing softball and the electric guitar.                         Beth had a strong belief in God and kept a prayer list. She said the same prayers every night and would pray for family, friends, students, and co-workers. She was a strong-willed, intelligent, and loving woman with quick wit and a colorful sense of humor.                                                          She is survived by her husband Bob of KCK; daughter Debbie (Darrell) Rogers, Crete, Nebraska; and daughter Laura (Neil) Porras of KCK; two grandchildren Akiume Butner and Rosie Porras of KCK; and close family Brian (Candi) Butner. She will be remembered and missed dearly by her family and friends.                                                                                                                                                                                                          The family would like to recognize and extend our heartfelt gratitude to the amazing nursing staff on CA 5 Neuro ICU, Palliative Care Team and Kansas City Hospice on CA 11 at KU Medical Center. They provided Beth and the family with loving care as she tried to heal. They provided our family the best last days to spend with her.                                                                                                                                                                      In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The Sunflower House (a non-profit, non-residential children’s advocacy and abuse prevention center serving Johnson and Wyandotte counties); or a charity of your choice in Beth’s honor.                                                                                     We will have a Celebration of Life on Friday, March 21st, 2025 at Skradski Funeral Home, 340 N. 6th St., Kansas City, Kansas 66101. Beth’s wishes were to be cremated. Family will receive visitors beginning at 10:00 am, a rosary will be said at 11:40, followed by a memorial service at noon.