Mary Ella Rumley

Peoria - Mary Ella Rumley passed on July 8, 2024, in her home at Proctor Place Senior Living. She is survived by her son John N. Rumley, and daughter-in-law Debra S. Rumley, of Peoria. Daughter-in-law Kelly D. Rumley of Bloomington, and grandsons John C. Rumley of Bloomington and Graeham A. Rumley of Princeton. She was preceded in death by her parents, C. Lester and Esther Newton, husband Donald D. Rumley, son David N. Rumley, and grandson Rowan B. Rumley. Mary was born in Madison, Illinois in 1928 to C. Lester and Esther (Binning) Newton and was raised in Granite City, IL. Her father was an inspector for the C&EI railroad and her mother worked in a candy/confectionery business in the St. Louis area. Mary attended Granite City High School and graduated in 1946. She then attended the University of Illinois earning her undergraduate in 1950 and then her master's degree. By the time she started her teaching career, she had travelled to 48 of the United States, along with Cuba, England, France, Mexico, and Canada! Anything to do with education, reading, bridge, music, history, travel, different cultures, and people was of interest. On June 8, 1957, she married Donald D. Rumley, in Granite City. Both had been and were educators in various public schools in Illinois. Their careers took them from southern Illinois to the Chicago suburbs and then back to south-central Illinois in Tuscola and Champaign-Urbana. Her son John was born in 1961, and David followed in 1962. By then, her husband Don was at the U of I School of Law and she taught in the Champaign school district. She received a Master Teaching Certificate from the state during her career. In 1965 they moved to Toulon so he could establish his law practice and she taught in the Wethersfield school district in Kewanee until her retirement in 1988. Mary's deep passion for her students, their education, and the teaching profession were very important to her in both her professional and personal life. Even after retiring, she taught as a substitute in Bureau County schools for many years. During her sons' high school and college athletic careers, she hardly missed a game as she and Don would leave from her school and hit the road to watch their boy's play! Mary's primary love was for her immediate family and cousins. She had great experiences and memories of her parents. Those memories and family heirlooms are many and were a great source of remembrance and meaning. With her husband's (Donald) passing in 1987, Mary began her life without her partner. Her son David's death in July 2023 and grandson Rowan's in December 2022 were extremely difficult. Mary was very active in PEO Chapters in Princeton, Macomb, and Peoria, the Bureau County Historical Society and the Presbyterian Churches in Granite City, Princeton, and Macomb. No visitation nor services will be held. Her ashes are to be buried in Sunset Hill Cemetery with her parents on each side. Online condolences may be directed to www.norbergfh.com Arrangements by Norberg Memorial Home, Inc. & Monuments.

Mary Ella Rumley

October 24, 1928 - July 8, 2024