Mary Ellen Rutherford

Mary E. Rutherford of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Eugene, Ore., passed away at her home on April 16, 2009, after a prolonged illness.

Mary was born on Nov. 3, 1946, in Cape Girardeau, to Neal Clifton Edwards and Ruth Kurre Edwards. She graduated from Cape Girardeau Central High School in 1964. She later received both her bachelor's and master's degrees in Special Education from Southeast Missouri State University. Mary was a dedicated special education teacher at both Cape Girardeau Central Junior High School and Central High School from 1981 to 1994, then again from 2003 until 2009. She also taught special education at East Sutherlin Primary School in Sutherlin, Ore., from 1995 to 2003.

She was a licensed cosmetologist and worked for Mabel's Beauty Salon and The O'Haira from 1965 to 1994.

In addition to her active teaching career, Mary had recently begun teaching an online special education class for Southeast Missouri State University and was employed part time at Coldwater Creek. She was involved in several civic, church and school organizations, including the Trinity Lutheran School Board, the Trinity Lutheran Church Board of Christian Care, Scope Club GFWC and was the department chair of preparing for the Academy of Success at Central High School, Missouri State Teachers Association and the Community Teachers Association.

She married Eastman Foster in Cape Girardeau on April 2, 1967, and of this union was born a daughter, Kendra Foster. She married Roger Rutherford in Cape Girardeau on June 24, 1994. Mary is survived by her daughter, Kendra Foster Mitchell (Trevor) of Loganville, Ga.; her father and stepmother, Neal and Verline Edwards of Cape Girardeau; her mother, Ruth Edwards of Cape Girardeau; her sister, Carolyn Moore (Albert) of Cape Girardeau; and her beloved Jack Russell terrier, Lucy.

She will be missed by many wonderful friends as well as colleagues, and students at Central High School. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roger Rutherford, on Feb. 9, 2003.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m.. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel, and the funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Trinity Lutheran Church. She will be laid to rest at Memorial Park Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

Flowers may be sent or memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, at 106 S. Farrar Drive, Suite 104, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63701 or the Trinity Lutheran School Building Fund, at 55 N. Pacific St., Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63701.