Mary Laverne (Conner) Baber

Mary LaVerne (Conner) Baber, 103, of Mexico, passed away at 8:40 p.m. on Monday, March 22, 2021, at Blair Ridge Health Campus, Peru.

She was born at the family home west of Mexico on January 9, 1918, to Vernon Glen and Ollie Agnes (Jones) Conner and was a lifelong resident of Miami County.  She married Richard Dale Baber on September 11, 1953, and he preceded her in death on April 2, 2017.

She was a 1935 graduate of Jefferson Township High School. Following high school, she worked as an office and credit manager for the Firestone Tire & Rubber Company in its Peru store and was then employed as receptionist for Dr. Burrous, Optometrist in Peru until retiring in March 1961.

Mary LaVerne loved the Mexico Community, and her priorities were faith, family, and friends.  Having lived in Miami County all her life, she was involved in many local organizations including Dukes Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Indiana Women’s Symphony Society (Miami Co. unit), Miami County Republican Women, and Miami County Historical Society. Throughout her life she was an active member of the Mexico (now New Life) United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School, held several offices within the church and the United Methodist Women’s group, and was involved with the music, playing the piano and directing the choir for seventy-five years.

She was a mentor to many children and young adults through the years, which resulted in many enduring, lifelong friendships. She continued to make new friends throughout her life and during her time at Blair Ridge, and was loved by many.

She is survived by her son Dennis Baber (Olivia), Panama City, Florida; daughter Linda Foland (Tim), Lafayette, Indiana; six grandchildren, Aileen Everett, Newberry, FL; Jeremy Baber (Allison), Lakeland, FL; Brenda Baber, Panama City Beach, FL; Wesley Baber (Monica), Boca Raton, FL; Bethany Gee (William), Brownsburg, IN; and Michael Foland (Yi), West Lafayette, IN.  Also surviving are ten great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Richard; her only sister, Patricia J. Moulton, by just fifteen minutes; and grandson, Benjamin Foland.

Visitation will be from 1:00-4:00 on Sunday, March 28 , at the New Life United Methodist Church. The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 29, 2021 , at the New Life United Methodist Church, Mexico, with Pastor Doug Spurlock, Pastor John Meunier, and Pastor Al Kundenreich officiating.  Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery, Mexico, Indiana.

Memorial donations may be made to New Life United Methodist Church, PO Box  366, Mexico, IN 46958.

McClain Funeral Home, Denver, Indiana, has been entrusted with arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.mcclainfh.com, where a link to the live-stream funeral service can be found on her obituary page.