Mary Lou Mayes

Mary Lou Mayes, 85, of Mount Vernon, OH, came face to face with Jesus, Monday, March 25th, 2024, after a brief stay at Mt Vernon Health and Rehabilitation Center, in Mount Vernon.
Mary Lou was born October 28th, 1938, in Clover Bottom, KY. Her parents Chester and Leona {Doseck} Gibbs raised her in Ohio. She married Rev. James R. Mayes on June 10th, 1956, who passed away April 6th, 2021.  

Mary Lou was a daycare business provider for about 50 years. She retired from business in 2012. Many of the people she watched sent thank you cards and often mentioned her good cooking.  Her love for God was evident and her good influence spread all over Knox County, as she prayed with and encouraged her daycare children.  She was quick to apologize and to forgive.  Even the EMT who helped her was one of her daycare children. Mary Lou was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Mount Vernon, OH.  She headed Vacation Bible School, hosted many visitors, and was a strong supporter of the church for many years.  She loved to play table games, especially Scrabble, but she could never beat her husband, Jim.  

Mary Lou will be deeply missed by her children Susanne (Eugene) Bell, Robin (Bradley) Stacy; nine grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren; sisters Betty Vondenhuevel (Bellefontaine, OH), Carolyn Gibbs (Sidney, OH), Phyllis Ogilvie (Springhill, FL), Rebecca Strunk (Sidney, OH), and brother James Gibbs (Sidney, OH).

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her husband, son James C. Mayes (2020), sisters Patricia Carrill and Teresa Hughes Sekas, granddaughter Shiloh (Bell) Wise, two great grandchildren and a son-in-law Rev. Joe Pittenger.

Friends may call Friday March 29, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Roberts Funeral Home-Mount Vernon Chapel.  Funeral services will follow at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home with Rev. Russ Gumm officiating.  Burial will be at Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens.  Online tributes may be made at www.RobertsFuneralHome.com.