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Visitation:
There will be a Memorial Gathering from 4 to 7 p.m.
Wednesday at Staab Funeral Home.
Service:
10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Funeral home: Staab Funeral Home, 1109 S. 5th
Street, Springfield
Obituary
Mary Beth Bushnell, 59, of rural Salisbury, passed
away Sunday, June 1, 2014, at 3:26 pm at St. John's
Hospital.
Mary Beth was born on July 16, 1954 in Lincoln, IL
the daughter of Doris and George Hoepfner, who
preceded her in death. She was the youngest of four
sisters; Janice Loeffelholz of Palmetto, Florida,
Nancy Miller of Mahomet, IL and Alice (Sam) Madonia
of Springfield (all surviving).
She is survived by her husband, James Bushnell, her
daughter Jaime (fiancé Drew) and numerous nieces and
nephews.
On September 22, 1979 she married the love of her
life, Jim, in Springfield, Illinois. Their only
child, Jaime, was born in 1985. After a few years,
they said goodbye to city life and bought a house
with acreage in the country. The Bushnell house,
known as The Funny Farm, was never empty of animals;
a wide variety including horses, llamas, goats,
cats, dogs, guinea pigs, degus, and even an opossum.
Mary's true passion in her recent years was rescuing
pit bulls. She was personally responsible for the
incarceration of two animal abusers. She enjoyed
reading novels, laying out in the pool, camping and
listening to music on the porch while surrounded by
family and friends.
She functioned in many roles at the Illinois State
Police and retired after 35 years of service. In
retirement, she wrote for the St. Louis Examiner as
a pet enthusiast.
Mary had an old soul which was immediately apparent
to all who knew her. Evencomplete strangers would
come up to her and tell her their life stories. Many
stray animals were attracted to the Bushnell
property, probably for the same reason. Her sense of
humor and laughter will be missed by everyone who
knew her.
Memorial Gathering: 4 - 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 4th,
2014, at Staab Funeral Home.
Funeral Service: 10 a.m. Thursday, June 5th, 2014,
at Staab Funeral Home with Pastor Kreston Lipscomb
officiating.
Memorial contributions toward her greatest passion,
the VillalobosRescue Center, would be greatly
appreciated.
Online condolences may be sent through
Staab Funeral Home |
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