Mary Lois Werkheiser, age 82 of rural Lena, passed away Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at the Lena Living Center. She was born July 29, 1935 in Murphysboro to the late William H. and Anabel (Wolfe) Sauer. Mary graduated from Murphysboro High School and McKendree College in Lebanon where she was a charter member of the Alpha Omega Society.

She married James "Jim" Werkheiser on March 26, 1959 at Wesley United Methodist Church in Stockton.

Mary began her teaching career in Granite City, then moved to Stockton where she taught until retiring in1991, after 25 years. She later worked part-time at the Stockton Greenhouses and Torkelson's Cheese Factory in Lena while all that time working with her husband on their family farm until their retirement from farming in 1994. They moved to Lakeview, Arkansas, in 2002 and moved back to Illinois in 2014.

She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends and had a talent for sewing, knitting and quilting. She knitted dozens of caps for Red Cross Preemie Program, along with quilting lap robes for the elderly. Mary also like to bake and deliver those goodies to friends and family. She really enjoyed a spirited board or card game and loved to win.

She was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, a lifetime member of the National Education Association, Illinois Education Association and the Retired Teachers Association. One of her proudest moments was when she was nominated by a former student as "one who made a difference" as a distinguished educator and is listed in Who's Who of American Teachers.

Mary is survived by her husband, James; children, Robert (Gail) Werkheiser of Lena and Jean (Jeffrey) Zieber of Seligman, Missouri; brothers, Robert (Pat) Sauer and George (Carolyn) Sauer of Murphysboro; sister, Margaret (Richard) Keller of Murphysboro; grandchildren, Michael Werkheiser, Morgan Werkheiser, Casey Coleman, Benjamin Coleman, Zachary Zieber, Tyler Zieber, Sara Werkheiser, Sandra Werkheiser and David Werkheiser; and great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Gerald "Jerry"; daughter, Carol; granddaughter, Mellissa Shumaker; and brother, John.