Obituary: Mary E. Sheehan

Posted on December 11, 2018
Mary E. Sheehan (Photo: Carmody Flynn)

Mary E. Sheehan, 85, of Bloomington and formerly of Danvers, passed away at 12:08 p.m., Sunday, December 9, 2018 at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington.

Her service will be at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, December 15, 2018 at Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home, Bloomington.  Burial will follow at Park Lawn Cemetery, Danvers. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be directed to VFW Post 454 Ladies Auxiliary Relief Fund.

Mary was born August 28, 1933 in Gridley, the daughter of Merle William and Charlotte Mabel Friend Scarbeary.  She married James T. Sheehan on December 6, 1952 in Peoria.  He died August 6, 2011.

Survivors include three daughters, Mary Diane and husband Curtis Hawk of Bloomington, Teresa Lyn and husband Steve Johnsen of Trout Creek, MT and Rita Lee Zirkel of Keokuk, IA; one son, James Timothy Sheehan and wife Irene of El Paso, TX; ten grandchildren, Bryce Zirkel, Melissa Marriott, Bridget Daniel, Cris Stanek, Brent Zirkel, Micki Gaddy, Bryan Zirkel, Justin Pressley,  Brandon Zirkel, and Britina Condren; twenty-one great grandchildren and a sister, Betty Fulmer of Little Rock, AR.

She was preceded in death by a grandson, Timothy Dillon Sheehan on October 11, 2011, her parents, step-father Charles Lanigan; two sisters, Esther Brooks and Joan Stine; a brother Daniel Scarbeary and a step-sister Maxine Casselman

Mary was employed at State Farm Insurance, ManPower, Owens Nursery, Bloomington Computer Center, MaGirl Supply, Hardesty Heating and retired from Commercial Packaging Company in 2013.

She was a life member and Past President of Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary 454, a Charter member of the World War II Museum in New Orleans, LA, a member of the McLean County Museum of History and the David Davis Foundation.

Mary volunteered for the McLean County Museum of History and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 454 and Auxiliary.  She enjoyed working with the veterans at the Danville VA and Quincy Veterans Home.  She was chairman for the VFW Scholarship Program both locally and District 7 for many years.

The greatest pleasure in her life was her family, friends and helping others, particularly working with the veterans, because they are a special group of people who have given so much.  She loved and appreciated the beauty of nature.

To express condolences online, please visit www.carmodyflynn.com.

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