Mary Ann Eikel, 66, of Montgomery City, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at the Jefferson Barracks VA Hospital in St. Louis after a courageous battle with cancer.
Born in Doniphan (Ripley County) on September 4, 1959, to Milton and Wanda (Holt) Nance, Mary grew up in High Hill, where she was raised in the Pentecostal faith and later embraced the Baptist tradition.
Mary graduated from Montgomery County R-II High School in 1977. In 1978, she enlisted in the United States Army. She completed boot camp at Ft. Jackson in South Carolina and was stationed in Washington, D.C., as part of the Criminal Investigation Division operating in Korea. Mary served her country for six years through active duty and the National Guard and later served as a Military Police Reservist in Warrenton.
After her military service, Mary pursued higher education at East Central College.
Mary’s proudest achievement was her children. She was a devoted mother and grandmother, fiercely proud of the adults her children have become and endlessly loving toward her grandchildren. Her home was filled with warmth, laughter and the joyful presence of her beloved pets.
A woman of honesty, humor and heart, Mary was known for her candid spirit and her ability to make others feel seen and loved. She cultivated deep friendships and cherished her community. Her green thumb brought life to every garden she touched, and her retirement from Tengco in 2023 marked the end of a career defined by dedication and hard work.
Mary leaves behind a legacy of love, strength and authenticity. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Mary is survived by her children: Terra (Kellen) Buril of St. Louis, Brandon Eikel of Wright City and Evan (Maddison) Forrest of Concord, N.C.; grandchildren, Cali, Kennedy, Kalah, Gideon and Kai; great-grandchild, Cairo; siblings: Kathy Block, Warren Holt, Ronnie Nance, Carol Strauss and Donna Kerr. She is also survived by Jason and Laurie Massey and family; Angela Stonebarger and family; Barb Stonebarger and family; Jacob Cruzen and family; and many more nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Milton and Wanda Nance; brother, Larry Nance; nephew, Nathan Stonebarger; lifelong friend, Carla Palmero; and Harvey “Bob” Eikel.
A funeral service with full military honors will be held at 1 p.m. on Oct. 4 at Reach Community Church in Montgomery City. Interment will follow at the Liberty Cemetery in Big Spring.
A visitation will be held from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. on Oct. 3 at Schlanker Funeral Home in Montgomery City.
The family requests that memorial donation be made payable to Schlanker Funeral Home to assist with Mary’s funeral expenses.
To all of Mary’s dear friends, family, and neighbors:
She wishes to extend her deepest and most sincere gratitude to each and every one of you who stepped in to help her during this journey. Whether you brought a warm meal, offered a ride to an appointment, ran errands or simply sat with her and shared a laugh—your kindness did not go unnoticed.
