In loving memory of Mary Lou Munroe - Obituary Baldwin Brothers

Obituary

MaryLou was born May 12, 1943 and passed away Friday February 16, 2024. As an infant MaryLou was adopted by Berniece and George Hauff. She grew up in Oak Park Illinois and attended Milliken University. She then worked in the advertising department at Fortune Magazine. In November of 1963 MaryLou met Courtland at a young adult church function. They dated for a year and married December 19, 1964. They had been married for 59 years. MaryLou supported Courtland while he finished his last 2 years of Medical School and his Internship in Chicago. When Court entered the the United States Navy in 1966 they were stationed at Camp LeJeune North Carolina, Portsmouth Virginia, and Great Lakes Illinois. In 1973 they moved to Carbondale Illinois where MaryLou raised 4 children and served as a volunteer at the Memorial Hospital. For 7 years they owned a Cinnamon Bun and Delicatesen which MaryLou managed. She enjoyed hiring and mentoring local High School students who needed life direction. The success of her efforts is seen in how many of these students many years later have reached out to me with their condolences. Mary Lou then moved on to manage the Hospital Gift Shop where she had volunteered, and took it from a struggling organization to a highly successful fund raiser to support the hospital. In 2007 Court and MaryLou moved to The Villages. They made many friends in the 12 years they lived there, and some of the friends now reside at Waterman Village. It was at this time that Mary Lou was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease. She managed this disease with dignity and stubbornness. She joined the Parkinsons fight club in The Villages and exercised regularly with them. 10 years ago MaryLou discovered her biological family and described it as one of the greatest events in her entire life. Anyone who would sit still for a while and listen heard the amazing story of how her family was found.

When we moved to Waterman Village she regularly attended the Parkinsons Club and the Out Patient physical therapy program where she fell in love with all the therapists. But the nasty disease took its toll and it became progressively harder and harder to do things, but she was determined to not let it define her and because of her efforts and determination, many of her friends did not notice her decline and were shocked to learn of her death. The one defining word that has come up again and again to define MaryLou is “sweet”, and that she was. She has left an amazing legacy for us to follow. We miss her dearly but she told us she was ready to meet her Lord and Savior, and what a comfort that is for us.

MaryLou is survived by her loving husband Courtland, four children – Jennifer, Krissy, Heidi, and Philip, 2 sons in law Paul Gutman and Mark Harrison and one daughter in law Maryanne. She is also survived by her sister in law Elsbeth Messenger and 3 sisters, Linda, MaryJo, and Lori. In addition she had 8 grandchildren and one great grand daughter Adeline Rae is expected in April of this year.

Memorials may be made in MaryLou’s honor to the Michael J. Fox Foundation.