Mary Karcher

CAIRO, Ill. -- Mary Edith Karcher, 92, of Hoffman Estates, Ill., died Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2003, at St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates.

She was born Aug. 9, 1910, in Cairo, daughter of John T. and Pearl Gall Boyd. She married William T. Karcher, who died in 1990.

Karcher was a teacher at Cairo Public Schools many years. She was a graduate of Illinois State University at Normal.

She was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and its Daughters of Isabella and Altar Guild, Winnie Roche Circle and Order of Eastern Star. Formerly of Cairo, she was a past president of Cairo Business and Professional Women's Club, and past worthy matron of White Shrine of Jerusalem.

Survivors include a daughter, Mary Ross of Hoffman Estates; a son, William Karcher Jr. of Mt. Prospect, Ill.; a sister, Elizabeth Hoigard of Carlsbad, Calif.; a brother, Paul Boyd of Birmingham, Ala.; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Friends may call at Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Patrick's Church, with the Rev. Jerome Fortenberry officiating. Burial will be in Green Lawn Memorial Gardens at Villa Ridge, Ill.