Mary Lou Sallee

Ava, Missouri

Mary Lou Sallee, 87 years, 10 months, 26 days old, passed away on April 6, 2018 at her home with her family by her side.

Mary Lou was born May 10, 1930 in Seymour, MO to Louis B. and Bessie L. (Curley) Meir.  She lost her mother at age four, and her father remarried a wonderful woman, Sylvia Gatewood Meir, who became her second mother.

On September 28, 1956, Mary Lou and Donald Eugene Sallee were united in marriage in Springfield, MO, and were blessed with two children, Donald "Skip" and Anne.

Mary Lou graduated from Central High School in Springfield, Missouri and then attended Southwest Missouri State University where she obtained a double major in English/Speech and Physical Education. She received her Masters Degree from Drury College.

Prior to marrying Don, she taught Physical Education at SMSU. In the fall of 1956, she began her career at Ava High School, teaching and coaching there for 30 plus years. She taught physical education, health, and english. She started the girls high school track team and the Ava swim team. She also served as the Douglas County Water Safety Instructor, and spent her summers teaching swimming, lifesaving, and water safety skills. She was instrumental in the conception, approval,  and funding of the Ava Public Pool. She also taught first aid and CPR through the American Red Cross.

After retiring from teaching, Mary Lou began her second career, serving her community as State Representative of the 144 ^th District. She served as State Representative for eight years. Her key legislation included lowering the legal blood alcohol concentration level from .1 to .08. Some major accomplishments specific to her community included having Highway 5 in Ava named for the foxtrotter horse, having the foxtrotter named as the State horse, and assisting in obtaining the necessary funding for the Industrial Park Road.  In the Legislature, her committee service included: Elementary and Secondary Education; Higher Education; Children, Youth, and Families; Health and Mental Health; School Violence and Safe Children; and Agriculture.

Mary Lou dedicated her life to helping young people and serving her community. Mary Lou was a member of the Ava United Methodist Church, Missouri State Teacher's Association, Douglas County Republican Women, PEO, Friends of the Library, and University of Missouri Parentlink. Prior to being elected State Representative, she served as Republican Committee Woman and Treasurer of the Douglas County Central Committee.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents, her second mother, Sylvia Meir, her four year old brother, Jimmy Meir, and her husband, Don in September of 2017.

She is survived by her two children, Dr. Donald "Skip" Sallee, St. Louis, MO and Anne Sallee Mason and husband Dr. Scott Mason, Springfield, MO, three grandchildren, Evan Mason, Eliza and Donald Liam Sallee, sister and husband, Becky & Larry Frazier, Overland Park, KS, sister-in-law, Wanda Carras, Springfield, MO, four nieces, cousins, and many many friends.

Funeral services for Mary Lou will be Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. in the Ava United Methodist Church, Ava, MO with burial following in the Ava Cemetery.  Visitation will be Tuesday, April 10 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the Ava High School Gymnasium.  Officiating will be Pastor Oren Alcorn and Pastor Jessica Foster.  Memorials may be made to the Don and Mary Lou Sallee Scholarship Fund c/o Town & Country Bank, P.O. Box 807, Ava, MO 65608.  Services are being conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, MO.