Mary Leora Lynch

Mary Leora Lynch, née Harrity, age 85, passed away on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. Mary was born on October 17, 1936 in Kansas City, Kansas. She grew up in Argentine, one of nine children of William Harrity and Grayce Wylie Harrity. She was a 1954 graduate of Bishop Ward High School.

Mary married John Lynch in 1964 and they were together for more than 53 years until John’s passing. She worked for many years as a stenographer at the Santa Fe Railroad and as a transcriptionist at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She was also a longtime parishioner of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Shawnee, Kansas.

Mary was proud of her Irish heritage and would often say, “My ancestors were from County Mayo, God help us.” She loved reminiscing about her travels to Ireland, Belgium, and Germany. She especially treasured her dear friends from Shawnee’s sister city of Listowel in County Kerry.

Mary was a voracious reader and aficionado of the Food Network, HGTV, and Blue Bloods. She was very family-oriented and strong in her faith.  She was quite opinionated, but she was welcoming and hospitable to visitors from far and wide.

Mary is survived by her three children, Tom (Erin) Lynch of Shawnee, Jim (Michelle) Lynch of Bonner Springs, and Jennifer (Chris) Elliott of Overland Park. She also leaves behind her cherished grandchildren, Nathan (Raven) Lynch, Jeffrey Lynch, Eleanor Lynch, Bridget (McKinnon) Walsh, Sean (Chelsea) Elliott, Jack Lynch, and Elizabeth Elliott, as well as her brother Joseph (Donna) Harrity, her sister Rita DeGruson, and many nieces, nephews, and friends. She was a wonderful soul and she will be greatly missed.

If you would like to make a donation in her name, we recommend the American Cancer Society or Kansas City Hospice House.