Mary Dice

Mary Kathryn (Mary K.) Dice, 87, passed May 9, 2011, in Lehigh Acres, FL. She was born December 4, 1923 to Bloice and Esther (Ehnen) Barner, Monon, IN. She was a long time winter resident of Lehigh Acres and moved there 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 a sales representative, District Manager based in Shelbyville, IN and Dayton, OH, 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 Arctic Circle. She never came home from a trip without new friends. Not just "travel" 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. 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. As much as she was able, she still cooked from scratch. If she wasn't cooking, she was going to dinner with friends.
Surviving are a son, Lewis Craig Brown (Lori) of Walled Lake, MI, a daughter, Rosemary Evans of Lehigh Acres, FL and a sister, Eloise Koekenberg (Emil) of Monon, IN.
A Graveside Service will be held 3:00 pm Thursday, May 12, 2011 at Bedford Cemetery, Monon, IN. Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, or Hope Hospice, Lehigh Acres, FL.