Mary Ellen Baney

Mary Ellen Baney, daughter of the late Francis and Effie (Barnett) Mayfield, was born July 16, 1940, in Mountain Grove. She passed away on May 8, 2025, at her home in Mountain Grove at the age of 84. Mary grew up and attended school in Mountain Grove. She was united in marriage to Clarence Leon Baney on March 5, 1960, in Wright County, Missouri. Two sons, Marvin and Michael, were born to this union. They raised their family in St. Louis, where Clarence worked for Ford and Mary was a cosmetologist. Much later in life they eventually moved back to the Mountain Grove area. Mary enjoyed being outside while tending to her gardens, chickens and rabbits, as well as horseback riding and fishing. She also liked canning and baking and was known for her exceptional cherry pies. She also enjoyed knitting and playing pitch but, her greatest joy in life was spending time with her family. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Besides her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Baney; one son, Michael Baney; and four brothers, Donald, Ronald, Randy and Terry Mayfield. Mary is survived by one son, Marvin Baney; five sisters, Frances Bidwell, Anna Seim, Betty Grubbs, Debbie Hoffschneider and Glinda Kelley; one brother, Lonnie Mayfield; and many nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends. Graveside services for Mary Baney were held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in the Friendship Cemetery with the Rev. Frank McCune officiating. Lonnie Mayfield, Jim Grubbs, Marty Mayfield, Francis Kelley and Jake Kelley served as pallbearers. Special songs were “I’ll Meet You In The Morning” and “Look What I’m Trading For A Mansion.” Burial was in the Friendship Cemetery, Dawson, under the direction of the Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home of Mountain Grove. Online condolences: www.craighurttfuneralhome.com.