Mary Ellen Smith Givens
Mary Ellen Smith Givens passed away on September 26, 2021. She was born on May 18, 1937, in Evanston, Illinois, and spent her childhood in Wilmette, a Chicago suburb. She graduated from New Trier High School and attained a degree in math from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. She was an active member of Tri Delta Sorority.
As a young girl, Mary Ellen was very active in sports and was quite the tomboy who loved to climb trees and onto garage roofs. After college graduation, Mary Ellen, nicknamed Smitty, and Sis worked in Chicago.
In 1962 she headed to Denver, Colorado where she had attended a young life camp as a teenager. In Denver, she worked as a programmer and became an avid Denver Broncos’ fan, having season tickets for many years and even attending the Super Bowl in New Orleans.
She met and married her sweetheart, Bill Givens, in 1987. After retirement, they moved to Kimberling City, Missouri. They were both active members of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and Mary Ellen joined the DAR at that time. They enjoyed being on their boat on Table Rock Lake and also camping and fishing. Mary Ellen also enjoyed playing bridge and reading. They enjoyed 25 years together until his passing in 2012.
She leaves her sister, Peggy Dudman (Bill and Nancy, David and Bronson), her sister-in-law Linda Smith (Matt and Lauren) as well as stepchildren Billy and Stephen and their families.
Her family will miss her greatly, a truly special person and friend to many. Her remains and her husband’s will be interred in the columbarium at St Mark’s Church.
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