Mary McCauley obituary: Mary McCauley's Obituary, Dove Topeka
In Memory Of
Mary Charlene McCauley
1937 - 2024
In Memory Of
Mary Charlene McCauley
1937 - 2024
Mary Charlene McCauley, 86, of Topeka, passed away Sunday, January 21, 2024.
She was born June 27, 1937, in Topeka, Kansas, the daughter of William and Bertha (Harms) Nason. She received a Bachelor's Degree in Education from Washburn University in 1971.
Mary was employed by the USD 501 as an Elementary/ Middle School Teacher for 27 years, until retiring. She was loved by her students and was editorialized in the Topeka Capital Journal because she told them if they all passed this special test she would stand on her head. Needless to say, they all passed and she got quite a reaction when she stood on her head on a desk in the middle of the room! She shared her love of horses with her students. She would haul her mule Maude, pony Princess, and horses Pawnee and Tweety to the playground for riding demonstrations and petting.
Music and dance were always a huge part of her life. In her younger years, she was a cheerleader, and dancer in toe-tap and ballet on pointe. She was a choir director for the Grace United Methodist Church for many years. She had a beautiful soprano voice and sang at many weddings. She also played the bassoon and was first chair at Kansas University. Playing piano was another one of her skills.
Her creative talents also extended to sewing, wood carving and scrapbooking. She loved making costumes for her grandchildren and also made beautiful Christmas stockings for her friends and family. She embellished them and we can still see glitter and sequins throughout her house. She spent countless hours scrapbooking for herself and others. Those are things we will treasure forever.
She was an animal lover and had many cats and dogs over the years. Willie never forgot the time she called him up saying “I have a new guy in my life”. When Willie said “Oh? Really?” She surprised him with “Yeah, I got a cat and I named him Guy”.
She had a wonderful sense of humor and will be missed by so many.
Survivors include a daughter, Jeri Wood; sons, William Terreau and Wayne McCauley; grandchildren, Justin (Amanda) Terreau, Meagan (Chris) Locke, Riley Terreau, Noah Terreau, Dawson Wood, and Danny Terreau; 6 great grandchildren, nieces, Jody (Charley) Howard, Jona (Joe) Tatrn, Gelene Nason, Lenore (Bill) Dinardo, Katie (Lance) Domek and Shana Miller; nephew, Warren (Judy) Nason, and many cousins, friends and students.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, William (Jeanette) Nason; and sister, Margaret (Tony) Carter.
Words from Mary:
"I have lived at a remarkable time in history. I can remember the blocks of ice delivered for the ice box that sat on the porch, the outhouse, the coal furnace, Victory Gardens, rationing coupons, the age before penicillin and TV. I never thought man would walk on the moon, but it has happened. I experienced the flood in the '50s, the '66 tornado that lifted the house into the yard next door, and a small house fire. Living in Spain for three years made me appreciate traveling and being an American. Issues with my eyes kept me from embracing the computer. After 27 years of teaching, it was time to retire."
Favorite Family Poem:
The Prayer of Faith
By Hannah More Kohaus
God is my help in every need;
God does my every hunger feed;
God walks beside me, guides my way
Through every moment of the day.
I now am wise, I now am true,
Patient, kind, and loving, too.
All things I am, can do, and be,
Through Christ, the Truth that is in me.
God is my health, I can’t be sick;
God is my strength, unfailing, quick;
God is my all, I know no fear,
Since God and love and Truth are here.
Private interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery in Topeka, Kansas.
Memorial contributions may be made to Saving Death Row Dogs, PO Box 67671, Topeka, Kansas 66667, the Cat Association, 1719 SW Gage Blvd, Topeka, Kansas 66604, or Midland Care, 120 SW Frazier Cir, Topeka, Kansas 66606.
To share a memory of Mary or leave a special message for her family, please click the Share Memories button above.
She was born June 27, 1937, in Topeka, Kansas, the daughter of William and Bertha (Harms) Nason. She received a Bachelor's Degree in Education from Washburn University in 1971.
Mary was employed by the USD 501 as an Elementary/ Middle School Teacher for 27 years, until retiring. She was loved by her students and was editorialized in the Topeka Capital Journal because she told them if they all passed this special test she would stand on her head. Needless to say, they all passed and she got quite a reaction when she stood on her head on a desk in the middle of the room! She shared her love of horses with her students. She would haul her mule Maude, pony Princess, and horses Pawnee and Tweety to the playground for riding demonstrations and petting.
Music and dance were always a huge part of her life. In her younger years, she was a cheerleader, and dancer in toe-tap and ballet on pointe. She was a choir director for the Grace United Methodist Church for many years. She had a beautiful soprano voice and sang at many weddings. She also played the bassoon and was first chair at Kansas University. Playing piano was another one of her skills.
Her creative talents also extended to sewing, wood carving and scrapbooking. She loved making costumes for her grandchildren and also made beautiful Christmas stockings for her friends and family. She embellished them and we can still see glitter and sequins throughout her house. She spent countless hours scrapbooking for herself and others. Those are things we will treasure forever.
She was an animal lover and had many cats and dogs over the years. Willie never forgot the time she called him up saying “I have a new guy in my life”. When Willie said “Oh? Really?” She surprised him with “Yeah, I got a cat and I named him Guy”.
She had a wonderful sense of humor and will be missed by so many.
Survivors include a daughter, Jeri Wood; sons, William Terreau and Wayne McCauley; grandchildren, Justin (Amanda) Terreau, Meagan (Chris) Locke, Riley Terreau, Noah Terreau, Dawson Wood, and Danny Terreau; 6 great grandchildren, nieces, Jody (Charley) Howard, Jona (Joe) Tatrn, Gelene Nason, Lenore (Bill) Dinardo, Katie (Lance) Domek and Shana Miller; nephew, Warren (Judy) Nason, and many cousins, friends and students.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, William (Jeanette) Nason; and sister, Margaret (Tony) Carter.
Words from Mary:
"I have lived at a remarkable time in history. I can remember the blocks of ice delivered for the ice box that sat on the porch, the outhouse, the coal furnace, Victory Gardens, rationing coupons, the age before penicillin and TV. I never thought man would walk on the moon, but it has happened. I experienced the flood in the '50s, the '66 tornado that lifted the house into the yard next door, and a small house fire. Living in Spain for three years made me appreciate traveling and being an American. Issues with my eyes kept me from embracing the computer. After 27 years of teaching, it was time to retire."
Favorite Family Poem:
The Prayer of Faith
By Hannah More Kohaus
God is my help in every need;
God does my every hunger feed;
God walks beside me, guides my way
Through every moment of the day.
I now am wise, I now am true,
Patient, kind, and loving, too.
All things I am, can do, and be,
Through Christ, the Truth that is in me.
God is my health, I can’t be sick;
God is my strength, unfailing, quick;
God is my all, I know no fear,
Since God and love and Truth are here.
Private interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery in Topeka, Kansas.
Memorial contributions may be made to Saving Death Row Dogs, PO Box 67671, Topeka, Kansas 66667, the Cat Association, 1719 SW Gage Blvd, Topeka, Kansas 66604, or Midland Care, 120 SW Frazier Cir, Topeka, Kansas 66606.
To share a memory of Mary or leave a special message for her family, please click the Share Memories button above.
Mary Charlene McCauley, 86, of Topeka, passed away Sunday, January 21, 2024.
She was born June 27, 1937, in Topeka, Kansas, the daughter of William and Bertha (Harms) Nason. She received a Bachelor's Degree in Education from Washburn University in 1971.
Mary was employed by the USD 501 as an Elementary/ Middle School Teacher for 27 years, until retiring. She was loved by her students and was editorialized in the Topeka Capital Journal because she told them if they all passed this special test she would stand on her head. Needless to say, they all passed and she got quite a reaction when she stood on her head on a desk in the middle of the room! She shared her love of horses with her students. She would haul her mule Maude, pony Princess, and horses Pawnee and Tweety to the playground for riding demonstrations and petting.
Music and dance were always a huge part of her life. In her younger years, she was a cheerleader, and dancer in toe-tap and ballet on pointe. She was a choir director for the Grace United Methodist Church for many years. She had a beautiful soprano voice and sang at many weddings. She also played the bassoon and was first chair at Kansas University. Playing piano was another one of her skills.
Her creative talents also extended to sewing, wood carving and scrapbooking. She loved making costumes for her grandchildren and also made beautiful Christmas stockings for her friends and family. She embellished them and we can still see glitter and sequins throughout her house. She spent countless hours scrapbooking for herself and others. Those are things we will treasure forever.
She was an animal lover and had many cats and dogs over the years. Willie never forgot the time she called him up saying “I have a new guy in my life”. When Willie said “Oh? Really?” She surprised him with “Yeah, I got a cat and I named him Guy”.
She had a wonderful sense of humor and will be missed by so many.
Survivors include a daughter, Jeri Wood; sons, William Terreau and Wayne McCauley; grandchildren, Justin (Amanda) Terreau, Meagan (Chris) Locke, Riley Terreau, Noah Terreau, Dawson Wood, and Danny Terreau; 6 great grandchildren, nieces, Jody (Charley) Howard, Jona (Joe) Tatrn, Gelene Nason, Lenore (Bill) Dinardo, Katie (Lance) Domek and Shana Miller; nephew, Warren (Judy) Nason, and many cousins, friends and students.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, William (Jeanette) Nason; and sister, Margaret (Tony) Carter.
Words from Mary:
"I have lived at a remarkable time in history. I can remember the blocks of ice delivered for the ice box that sat on the porch, the outhouse, the coal furnace, Victory Gardens, rationing coupons, the age before penicillin and TV. I never thought man would walk on the moon, but it has happened. I experienced the flood in the '50s, the '66 tornado that lifted the house into the yard next door, and a small house fire. Living in Spain for three years made me appreciate traveling and being an American. Issues with my eyes kept me from embracing the computer. After 27 years of teaching, it was time to retire."
Favorite Family Poem:
The Prayer of Faith
By Hannah More Kohaus
God is my help in every need;
God does my every hunger feed;
God walks beside me, guides my way
Through every moment of the day.
I now am wise, I now am true,
Patient, kind, and loving, too.
All things I am, can do, and be,
Through Christ, the Truth that is in me.
God is my health, I can’t be sick;
God is my strength, unfailing, quick;
God is my all, I know no fear,
Since God and love and Truth are here.
Private interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery in Topeka, Kansas.
Memorial contributions may be made to Saving Death Row Dogs, PO Box 67671, Topeka, Kansas 66667, the Cat Association, 1719 SW Gage Blvd, Topeka, Kansas 66604, or Midland Care, 120 SW Frazier Cir, Topeka, Kansas 66606.
To share a memory of Mary or leave a special message for her family, please click the Share Memories button above.
She was born June 27, 1937, in Topeka, Kansas, the daughter of William and Bertha (Harms) Nason. She received a Bachelor's Degree in Education from Washburn University in 1971.
Mary was employed by the USD 501 as an Elementary/ Middle School Teacher for 27 years, until retiring. She was loved by her students and was editorialized in the Topeka Capital Journal because she told them if they all passed this special test she would stand on her head. Needless to say, they all passed and she got quite a reaction when she stood on her head on a desk in the middle of the room! She shared her love of horses with her students. She would haul her mule Maude, pony Princess, and horses Pawnee and Tweety to the playground for riding demonstrations and petting.
Music and dance were always a huge part of her life. In her younger years, she was a cheerleader, and dancer in toe-tap and ballet on pointe. She was a choir director for the Grace United Methodist Church for many years. She had a beautiful soprano voice and sang at many weddings. She also played the bassoon and was first chair at Kansas University. Playing piano was another one of her skills.
Her creative talents also extended to sewing, wood carving and scrapbooking. She loved making costumes for her grandchildren and also made beautiful Christmas stockings for her friends and family. She embellished them and we can still see glitter and sequins throughout her house. She spent countless hours scrapbooking for herself and others. Those are things we will treasure forever.
She was an animal lover and had many cats and dogs over the years. Willie never forgot the time she called him up saying “I have a new guy in my life”. When Willie said “Oh? Really?” She surprised him with “Yeah, I got a cat and I named him Guy”.
She had a wonderful sense of humor and will be missed by so many.
Survivors include a daughter, Jeri Wood; sons, William Terreau and Wayne McCauley; grandchildren, Justin (Amanda) Terreau, Meagan (Chris) Locke, Riley Terreau, Noah Terreau, Dawson Wood, and Danny Terreau; 6 great grandchildren, nieces, Jody (Charley) Howard, Jona (Joe) Tatrn, Gelene Nason, Lenore (Bill) Dinardo, Katie (Lance) Domek and Shana Miller; nephew, Warren (Judy) Nason, and many cousins, friends and students.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, William (Jeanette) Nason; and sister, Margaret (Tony) Carter.
Words from Mary:
"I have lived at a remarkable time in history. I can remember the blocks of ice delivered for the ice box that sat on the porch, the outhouse, the coal furnace, Victory Gardens, rationing coupons, the age before penicillin and TV. I never thought man would walk on the moon, but it has happened. I experienced the flood in the '50s, the '66 tornado that lifted the house into the yard next door, and a small house fire. Living in Spain for three years made me appreciate traveling and being an American. Issues with my eyes kept me from embracing the computer. After 27 years of teaching, it was time to retire."
Favorite Family Poem:
The Prayer of Faith
By Hannah More Kohaus
God is my help in every need;
God does my every hunger feed;
God walks beside me, guides my way
Through every moment of the day.
I now am wise, I now am true,
Patient, kind, and loving, too.
All things I am, can do, and be,
Through Christ, the Truth that is in me.
God is my health, I can’t be sick;
God is my strength, unfailing, quick;
God is my all, I know no fear,
Since God and love and Truth are here.
Private interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery in Topeka, Kansas.
Memorial contributions may be made to Saving Death Row Dogs, PO Box 67671, Topeka, Kansas 66667, the Cat Association, 1719 SW Gage Blvd, Topeka, Kansas 66604, or Midland Care, 120 SW Frazier Cir, Topeka, Kansas 66606.
To share a memory of Mary or leave a special message for her family, please click the Share Memories button above.