BATEMON, MARY ARLENE, 75 , passed away on November 10, 2022 at Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita. Mary was born on January 5, 1947 in Cherryvale, Kansas to Doyle and Mary Jane (Adam) Phillips. Mary was raised, attended school and graduated from Cherryvale High School. After high school Mary went to beauty school and became a hairdresser and even owned her own beauty shop. Mary was married in 1968 and had two boys, Sam and Gerald. They moved to Killeen, Texas and then later back to Mulvane. Mary began working at Cessna and after her divorce she met John Batemon and they were then married on March 19, 1981. While working at Cessna Mary also worked some at the nursing home in Colwich and later went to work for the Garden Plain Schools as a custodian and then Goddard Schools transitioning into food prep and service. Mary loved hunting and fishing with John and her boys. Going to the casino, playing bingo and especially quilting were Mary's favorite pastimes but her greatest passion was spending time with her kids, grandkids and great grandkids; and having holidays together especially Christmas, Thanksgiving and 4 ^th of July. Another of Mary's favorite loves was her "farm" full of pigs, chickens, ducks and her cows Jenny and Penny who would eat out of her hand. Mary was a true matriarch, gardening, canning and cooking for her family and made the best mac salad in the area. Mary always said John molded her into the tough, strong woman she was and that he made her the "best of the best". As the "best of the best", Mary was good spirited and very giving; wanting to help anybody she could. This was easy to see once she started attending the Goddard Church where she was an active part of the Methodist Women in Mission and their feed the homeless program.

Mary is survived by her children Sam (Jennifer) of Wichita, Gerald (Ericka) of Haysville, Johnny (Kim) of Goddard, Diana Neuway (Greg) of Goddard, Wanda Archuleta (Albert) of Wyoming, Mike of Wichita, David (Tammy) of Wichita; sister Patricia Deniau; brother Doyle Phillips (Earlene); 20 grandchildren; 39 great grandchildren; many other family and friends. Mary was preceded in death by her parents Doyle and Mary Jane; brother Charles Phillips and husband John Batemon.

A memorial celebration for Mary will be held at the Goddard Church on Saturday, November 26, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.

Arrangements are entrusted to Heritage Funeral Home of Andover.