Mary Lee Wineinger  |1942-2022| 

Mary Lee Wineinger, age 80, of Chanute formerly of Marion and Hillsboro, passed away on May 2 after an 18-month struggle with pancreatic cancer. Mary Lee was born on February 4, 1942, to Ellis (Jack) and Fronie Freeborn in Florence. Mary Lee graduated from Florence High School.

She married the love of her life, Earl Wineinger, in 1962; they had three children and lived in Kansas and Virginia. Mary Lee also lived in Colorado before returning to live in Chanute. She was a member of the First Baptist Church there and the WOW Fellowship. A determined and task-oriented daughter, wife, mom, grandmother great-grandmother and friend, Mary Lee loved the joy of family life, the hard work of farming, and the pleasures that nature offers. She will be remembered for her homemade special cinnamon rolls and chocolate sheet cake.

In addition to livestock farming, Mary Lee held positions in medical offices and Prairie View Mental Health Services in Marion, KS. After enjoying years of supporting Earl's work in vocational agriculture and FFA activities, upon his death, Mary Lee established a memorial scholarship for a Marion County student to honor Earl. It has now been renamed and will continue as the "Earl and Mary Lee Wineinger Memorial Scholarship."

Mary Lee was preceded in death by her husband, Earl, her parents Ellis (Jack) and Fronie Freeborn, and brother, Jackie Freeborn. She is survived by sister, Ruth Hodges; sons Ronald Wineinger (Tamara) and Matthew Wineinger (Judy); daughter, Robin Richmond (Jeff Fitzpatrick); five grandchildren, Misti Czarnowsky (Jake); Elizabeth Pendergrass (Connor); Andrew Wineinger and Abigail and Megan Wineinger; and two great-grandchildren, Sawyer and Sayge Czarnowsky.

Visitation will be Saturday, May 7 from 1 to 3 pm at Jost Funeral Home, Hillsboro, and a graveside service will follow at 4 pm at Hillcrest Cemetery in Florence.