Mary Ellen McConkey passed away peacefully July 24, 2019, in the home she loved with the family she loved at her side, ending a year long struggle with cancer.

Mary was born March 23, 1952, to Gordon and Pat Manring. When she was two, the family moved to the farm east of Albany. She graduated from Albany High School in 1970 and from Northwest Missouri State in 1974. Immediately after graduation she married her high school sweetheart, Richard McConkey and they began a wonderful life together. Mary taught Home Economics at South Harrison in Bethany for 16 years. She and Richard lived on a farm south of New Hampton where they started a family and she began her hobbies of gardening and keeping chickens. During that time she earned a Master's Degree in Guidance and Counseling and in 1990, she accepted the guidance counselor job at Albany High School where she stayed until retirement in 2007, ending 33 years in the profession.

Mary was highly regarded by faculty, students and her peers in the profession. She was named Middle School Counselor of the year 1996-97 by the Northwest Missouri School Counselor Association. The same association named her Secondary School Counselor of the 2005-06 school year. She received an Educator Appreciation Award in 2006 from the Missouri Academy of Science, Mathematics and Computing.  She took greater pride and satisfaction, however, from the many students she helped steer into higher education and other life choices and through everyday decisions. Every year she pushed students to apply for and earn scholarships and recognition that propelled them into successful careers. She was a calm disciplinarian, seldom raising her voice to make a point. She knew how the school system ought to work. She understood how to encourage students to get things done and to perform to the best of their abilities. She noted once to another teacher that kids had pecking orders, just like her chickens. She understood the trials that kids go through and helped each of them deal with those issues. She had a knack for communicating with students and their parents. She lived a wonderful and exemplary life both privately and professionally.

Upon retiring, Mary continued to substitute teach when asked and worked a variety of jobs. She served on the Gentry County 911 Board, becoming interested in its workings after a stint as a dispatcher. She also continued with her gardening and her chickens, keeping her brothers, sisters and others supplied with eggs. She could inspire people to do silly spur of the moment things, once stopping at a piano sitting in front of a store on a busy street in Pawhuska, OK, and getting her nieces to sing "Away in a Manger" while she accompanied them on the piano.

From childhood Mary made it a point to accumulate and maintain friendships. She took many opportunities to travel with her friends. Those friends gave selflessly to comfort her this last year.

As a young woman, Mary joined the Albany United Methodist Church and remained a faithful and active member until her death.

Mary is survived by her husband Richard, son John (Tessa) of Bloomington, IL. daughter, Dr. Katie (Jason) Dias of Stanberry, MO, grandchildren Madelyn and John Wyatt McConkey and Ellie and Owen Dias. She is also survived by brothers Edward, William, John, Maurice and Marvin and sisters Nancy Holman and Sally Lykins. She is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Mary's smile was brightest when surrounded by family.

Funeral Service: 10:00 AM Monday, July 29 at the Albany United Methodist Church with burial in the Grandview Cemetery, Albany.  The family will receive friends 6:00 – 8:00 PM Sunday evening at the Roberson-Polley Chapel in Albany, where friends may call anytime after 2:00 PM  Sunday.

Memorial Contributions: Albany United Methodist Church, Albany Alumni Association or the Albany Carnegie Library in care of the Roberson-Polley Chapel, 403 N. Hundley, Albany, MO 64402.  Online condolences: www.robersonpolleychapel.com