Mary Morton-Wilkinson, 83, of Jackson passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on her 83rd birthday Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Jan. 16, 1933, in Cape Girardeau to Oscar and Myrtle McClaird Ward. She and Leon Morton were married Nov. 20, 1949. They had been married 58 years when Leon passed away on May 4, 2008.

She and Freddie Wilkinson were married Oct. 20, 2010. They had been married nearly two years when Freddie passed away Sept. 15, 2012.

As a child, Mary enjoyed spending time with family and friends in the former Leemon Store, which her parents owned and operated. She attended Jackson High School and worked at the former Jackson Hosiery Mill and the former Lichtenegger Grocery Store. She then owned and operated the former Fashion 2-20 in Jackson.

Mary was well known for her love and gift of interior decorating. She and Leon used her gifted talent in the building and the resale of several homes in the Jackson area.

Mary was a longtime member of the Order of Eastern Star 91 in Jackson and Wesley United Methodist Church in Fruitland. She enjoyed playing the piano at church and for other special occasions. Mary was gifted in this area as well; she could play by music or ear, making those piano keys sing.

After Mary and Freddie were married, they enjoyed spending time together at the farm west of Jackson.

Loving survivors include two daughters, Pat (Steve) Golden and Kathy Nicholas of Jackson; three grandchildren, Shawn and Chad Golden and Casey Nicholas of Jackson; five great-grandchildren, Mara and Nick Golden, Brody and Riley Nicholas and Dante Lopez; two brothers-in-law, Jerry (Linda) Morton and Glen (Evelyn) Morton of Jackson; and three sisters-in-law, Betty Hink of Florissant, Missouri, Doris (Roger) King of Jackson and Evelyn Bowers of Herrin, Illinois.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Leon Morton, and her second husband, Freddie Wilkinson.

Visitation will be today from 4 to 7 p.m. at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Brian Anderson officiating.

Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Fruitland.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to Wesley United Methodist Church.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting mccombsfuneralhome.com.