- Mary Mabee Lanum Bunn, 50, New Palestine, died March 8, 2003. She was born April 7, 1952 in Indianapolis and was the daughter of the late Lawrence and Margaret Mabee. She married John Bunn on June 3, 1983, he survives. Other survivors include son Michael Lanum, Corydon, IN.; daughter Carolyn Shaw, Indianapolis; three sisters Nancy Meyer Brown, Sharon Mabee Ward, Kathy Mabee; one brother Joseph Mabee; three grandsons Evan Shaw, Corey Dicken and Travis Dicken. Assisted greatly and surrounded by a wide circle of loving friends, in particular Cheryl Dicken, Cindi DeWitt, Susan Murray Cooper, Marsha Ritter, Lois Ann Wright, Lora Mills, Sandra Aspy and Jackie Morice. Mary was a highly recognized business woman in the field of insurance claims. In 1977 she was the first female agent hired in Indiana for Western Southern Life Insurance and the first woman agent nationwide at Western Southern Life to be promoted to management sales force. She was an insurance claims manager at Preferred Risk Insurance from 1981, retiring in 1995. Awards presented to Mary in 1987 were Preferred Risk Adjuster of the Year (first presentation ever given) and Central Indiana Claims Association Adjuster of the Year. Mary's philosophy was "each day was a gift," after and eight year illness. Since 1996, she volunteered at the Wellness Community. She not only participated in but facilitated orientation sessions for newly diagnosed cancer patients. She felt it was very important and hopeful for a newly diagnosed person to meet with a long term survivor. She credited the Wellness Community in maintaining a positive approach to living with hope during a lengthy illness. An advocate for colorectal cancer, she was keynote speaker at the 2000 Colorectal Conference sponsored by the Wellness Community. She won the honor of Volunteer of the Year and appeared in their February 1999 calendar. She was a member of St. John United Church of Christ, Cumberland. The family will receive friends on Friday, March 14 from 3 to 8 p.m. in Moore & Kirk Irvington Chapel. Memorial services will be Saturday, March 15 at 11 a.m. in St. John United Church of Christ, 11000 E. Washington Street, Cumberland, with calling one hour prior to service in the church.
|