Mary Louise (Cornstubble) Henson, 94, of Keenes, IL, passed away with her family by her side,on Sunday August 30th at 10:30pm at Hamilton County Memorial Hospital in McLeansboro, IL.
Mary Lou was born on March 14th, 1926 to Lester and Elsie Mae (Greenwalt) Cornstubble Smith at their home in Papertown, IL. She married Leonard S. Henson on November 7th, 1944 at the home of her mother in Keenes, IL. After high school Mary Lou took a job as a teacher in a one room school house called The North Lily School. Mary Lou ran a general merchandise store, with her husband of 62 years, affectionately known as “The Big Store,” on Orchardville blacktop. The store was a hub for community activity and essential to the rural way of life. Mary Lou and Leonard were able to help out many families in need over the years. They raised three boys, Bill, Randy and Kirby, as well as two granddaughters, April and Kassie. Mary Lou was a member of Garrison Temple United Methodist Church where she served as treasurer for many years, as well as, sat on the cemetery board. She was also active in the Wayne County Home and Community Education Club-Hickory Hill Chapter for over 50 years. She was an avid seamstress and loved to embroidery panels for quilts, many of which she donated to community causes. In her later years she devoted a large amount of her free time to crocheting plastic shopping bags into sleeping mats that were donated to help the homeless in communities all across the tri-state area and several impoverished countries around the world. What Mary Lou enjoyed most of all was spending time with her grandchildren, whom she adored and loved with exemplary grace.
Mary Lou was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard Henson, and parents, Lester and Elsie Mae Cornstubble; her step father, Marshal Smith; one son Randal Lee Henson; her eldest granddaughter, Nikol Nadine Henson; and one sister, Katie Lee Talbert.
Mary Lou is survived by her sons Bill (Cheryl) Henson of Johnsonville, IL and Kirby Henson of Keenes, IL; grandson Travis (Tina) Henson of Breese, IL; granddaughters April (Jarod) Peyton of Wayne City, IL, and Kassie (Tyler) Harris of Senath, MO; great grandchildren, Paige and Captain Daniel Becking of Niceville, FL, Dutch and Auburn Peyton of Wayne City, IL, and Mac and Van Harris of Senath, MO; one great great granddaughter, Blair Becking of Niceville,FL; sister, Shirley Byars of Geff, IL; sister-in-law, Elenor Boyd of WI; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services for Mary Louise Henson will be held at 11 am on Friday, September 4, 2020 at the First United Methodist Church in Wayne City, IL with Rev. Michael Hall officiating.
Visitation will be held from 6 pm until 8 pm on Thursday, September 3, 2020 at the First United Methodist Church in Wayne City.
Burial will be at Garrison Temple Cemetery near Orchardville.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Garrison Temple Cemetery Fund and will be accepted at the church or a Young Funeral Home, which has been entrusted to provide arrangements.
Online condolences may be made at www.youngfuneralhomellc.com