Mary Richesson

Mary Elaine Richesson passed away peacefully on March 5, 2026, in Indian Harbour Beach, Florida, after a life beautifully lived and deeply loved. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, to Robert and Marie Zillner, Mary grew up in a lively home with five siblings where family, laughter, and hard work were the foundation of daily life. After graduating from Bishop Miege High School, Mary began her career as a legal secretary and a publisher's assistant before eventually finding her calling in residential real estate. Over the course of more than thirty years in Lawrence, Kansas, including being elected President of Lawrence's Board of Realtors, she built a reputation in the Lawrence community for integrity, dedication, and heartfelt care for the people she served. To Mary, helping someone find a home meant helping them begin a new chapter in life. Her garden, however, was where her soul truly bloomed. With her husband Dave, she transformed their yard into a sanctuary of ponds, hostas, peonies, irises, and seasonal flowers. It became a place where neighbors gathered, laughter echoed, and beauty was shared freely. Mary loved to travel with Dave, welcome friends and family into her home, and celebrate life's many moments. She believed deeply that family came first and that laughter could brighten even the hardest days. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, David Richesson; their children, daughter Jennifer Richesson, her husband Pete Ward, daughter Melissa Richesson, and son Ladd Richesson and wife Jen; and their grandchildren Cooper D, Mary Cassidy, Stone, and Raef. She is also survived by siblings Tom Zillner and wife Ellen, Renee Martin and husband David, Greg Zillner, Barrett Zillner and wife Lisa, and Fran Eaks and her husband Mark, along with many nieces and nephews who loved her dearly. Mary leaves behind a legacy of kindness, warmth, and beauty-seen in the lives she touched and in the gardens she so lovingly cultivated. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to a local community garden or planting a tree or shrub in Mary's memory.