Mary Louise Meismer

Mary Louise Meismer, 90, of Metamora, IL passed away at 11:49 am on Wednesday, October 28, 2015 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center, Peoria. She was born on March 22, 1925 in Pontiac, IL to Berley C. and Eva (Runyon) Dodson. She married Lambert A. Meismer on June 17, 1950 in Pontiac, IL and resided in Metamora since 1950. Lambert passed away on June 29, 1996. She is survived by her children Janet (Scot) Velling of Germantown Hills, IL, Delbert (Patty Croal) Meismer of Minneapolis, MN, and Rodney Meismer of Morton, IL; daughter-in-law Jodi MacNeal of Palm Beach Gardens, FL; grandchildren Tyler and Sarah Velling, and Joshua Alan Meismer MacNeal; and step-grandchild Eric Velling. She was preceded in death by her son Alan L. Meismer, her parents, and brothers Berley E. Dodson, DeWayne Dodson, and Rondell Dodson, and one sister Virginia Dodson. A Pontiac High School graduate she began her working life at the Livingston County Abstract Office in Pontiac, which then led to employment at Fellheimer Law Firm in Pontiac, IL. Once married to Lambert she moved to his hometown of Metamora. In 1960 Mary and Lambert started a family clothing and shoe store, The Toggery Shop, located on Route 116 in the heart of Metamora, which they operated for 18 years. During that time Mary was active in the Metamora Women's Club as a Charter Member, the Metamora Businessmen's Association, and later was the first woman elected to the Metamora Village Board. After closing The Toggery Shop in 1978, she became a real estate agent in 1979 joining Jim Maloof Realtor through to her 1999 retirement. She was a woman ahead of her time: owning her own business and working while raising her four children. She was of the Christian faith and a member of the Creve Coeur Christian Church. She enjoyed painting mainly with watercolors and spending time with her family and her grandchildren. Mary was blessed with the opportunity to watch her grandchildren grow up and enjoyed hearing about their daily activities. She was a very strong civic-minded individual and would talk politics with anyone that would listen, especially if they were Republican! Funeral services will be held at 11:30 am on Saturday, November 7, 2015 at Mason Funeral Home Metamora Chapel with Reverend John Plunkett officiating. Visitation will be held on Saturday from 10:00 am until service time at the funeral home. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Metamora. After burial, a luncheon will follow at the Metamora Fields. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer contributions be made to the Metamora Park District, 717 West Mt. Vernon Street, P.O. Box 633, Metamora, IL 61548, specifically for the Summer Band Concerts in the Park which she loved to attend. Online condolences at www.masonfuneralhomes.com.