Mary K. Dice

Mary K. Dice

Mary Katherine (Mary K) Dice, 87, died May 9, 2011, in Lehigh Acres. She was born December 4, 1923, to Bloice and Esther (Ehnen) Barner, Monon, Ind.

She is survived by her son and daughter, Lewis Craig Brown (Lori), Walled Lake, Mich., and Rosemary Evans, Lehigh Acres; granddaughter, Cassie Evans, Lehigh Acres, and grandson, Chet Evans, Hilliard, Fla. She has one sister, Eloice Koekenberg (Emil), Monon, Ind.

She was preceded in death by her sister Myna Rinker and brother Lowell Barner, Robert Earl Brown (husband; divorced), Waldron, Ind., and Charles D. Dice (husband), Dayton, Ohio. She is also survived by two grandsons, John and Brant Dice and great grandson Hunter from her marriage to Charles. Internment will be at Bedford Cemetery, Monon, Ind. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, or Hope Hospice, Lehigh Acres.

She was a long time winter resident of Lehigh Acres and moved here permanently in 2003. She was active in the United Methodist churches, where she lived, including local activities and missionary work in Puerto Rico, Korea and China. She was active in the Congregational Church in Lehigh Acres.

She worked for Avon Products, 1957- 1983, as sales representative, district manager based in Shelbyville, Ind., and Dayton, Ohio, and regional consultant for Western Ohio. She loved theatre, ballet, movies and plays. She attended Lehigh Senior High School plays and band performances. She supported music and the arts at all levels.

She was a 33-year breast cancer survivor. She loved to travel. She went to all 50 states, most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific islands and Artic Circle. She never came home from a trip without new friends. She kept up with them through letters, phone calls and visits. She had many friends, both old and new, and cherished all of them. No Sunday phone call was complete without descriptions of dinners and events from last week and the coming week. Her family said she loved to cook and try new recipes and foods from her travels. She made the best pies you ever tasted – only from scratch- and still did. Her annual chicken and noodles dinners were well attended and looked forward to by all invited, the family said.

A memorial service will be held on May 29 at 3 p.m. at First Community Congregational Church on Leeland Heights Blvd. in Lehigh with Pastor Deb Frysinger officiating.