Mary Lou (Lutes) Colwell

   Surrounded by family, Mary passed away at 11:45 pm on September 12th, 2022, just in time to celebrate in Heaven with Wayne for their 64th wedding anniversary.

   Mary (Lutes) Colwell was born in Henry, IL to Edwin “Doc” and Bertha (Russell) Lutes on July 9, 1938. She married Wayne Colwell on September 13, 1958.  Mary and Wayne made their home in Chillicothe.  She worked for IVC District 321 cafeteria for several years. In recent years she baked desserts for local restaurants in which several of her family heirloom recipes were her specialties.  However, the job she held the longest and loved the most was caring for children.  After raising her sons, Mary watched all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Each one of them was blessed to have been loved and cared for by “Ma”. She was a member of St. Edward’s Church where she joyfully helped provide food for funeral meals.  She enjoyed cooking, baking, reading, a good cup of coffee with friends or family, and hosting every holiday celebration. She was soft-spoken but her actions spoke loudly of her love for others. Her fortitude inspired her entire family. Her kind, sweet spirit and contagious smile will be missed by all that knew her.

   She is survived by their five sons: Jeff (Sandra) Colwell, Brian Colwell, Alan (Laurie) Colwell, Danny (Shawna) Colwell, and Greg (Amanda) Colwell; 16 grandchildren: Nicole, Jennifer, Danielle, Sierra, Luke, Morgan, Hallie, Jordan, Lexi, Colton, Grace, Jacob, Jack, Hannah, Ethan and Matthew; 12 great grandchildren: Ella, Joy, Madden, Cambren, Isaac, Vivian, Caleb, Calvin, Violet, Viera, Wayne and Alexander “AJ”; and 11 brothers and sisters.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Wayne, and five siblings.

  A funeral mass will be held at St. Edward’s Church, 1216 N. Sixth Street in Chillicothe, on Monday, October 10th at 11am. Memorial Visitation will be from 10-11am at the church prior.  Inurnment will follow mass at the Blue Ridge Cemetery in Edelstein. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Blue Ridge Cemetery.

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