Mary Ellen Minear, age 78, of Kirksville, Missouri, formerly of LaBelle, Missouri, passed away Thursday, October 27, 2016, at the Twin Pines Adult Care Center in Kirksville, Missouri.

Mary Ellen was born August 3, 1938 at Palmyra, Missouri to Harvey and Florence Hinkson. She attended elementary school through fourth grade at Steffenville, and then attended school at LaBelle, where she graduated in 1956. On June 5, 1955, at West Quincy, Missouri, she was united in marriage to Robert Bruce Minear.

Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her husband, Bruce; parents Harvey and Florence; and two brothers Edward and David Hinkson.

Mary Ellen is survived by four children, Anne Minear of Kirksville, Kathy Livesay and husband Phil of New London, Jimmy Minear and wife Terri of Glenwood, Bobby Minear and wife Karen of Edina, five grandchildren, Wesley Livesay and wife Cindy of New London, Matthew Livesay and wife Ariel of Hannibal, Nathan Minear and wife Randi of Shelbyville, William Minear of Edina, and Samuel Minear of Washington D.C.; four great-grandchildren, Brookelyn, Mackenzie, and Kameryn Livesay of New London, and Rhett Minear of Shelbyville, three sisters Reba Florea (Delmar) of Kahoka, Elva Spicknall(the late Jerry) of LaBelle, Laura Luker (Verlyn) of Quincy, Illinois; and one brother Ben Hinkson (JoAnn) of Galesburg, Illinois.

She was a member of the LaBelle Presbyterian Church and the LaBelle Chapter No. 316 Order of the Eastern Star.

The years before moving to Kirksville in 1986, Mary Ellen helped her husband, Bruce, operate a farm outside of LaBelle, where she also spent time gardening, raising collie pups, cooking (which she was well known for her excellent meals), sewing, decorating wedding & party cakes, and selling farm fresh eggs.  After moving to Kirksville she bought the Cottonwood Flower shop, which she operated for a brief time.  After selling the flower shop, she worked at Shockey's gas station for several years before retiring.

Mary Ellen enjoyed the outdoors and loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Saturday, November 5, 2016, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m. at the Coder Funeral Chapel in LaBelle, with Pastor Robert Shaffer of Grace Community Bible Church in Kirksville, officiating. Burial will follow at the LaBelle Cemetery.

Music selections will be "Welcome Home" by artist Michael W. Smith and "Amazing Grace" by artist Susan Boyle.

Casket bearers will be Wesley Livesay, Matthew Livesay, Nathan Minear, William Minear, Samuel Minear, and Chris Ashford.

Expressions of sympathy in memory of Mary Ellen may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Shriner's Children's Hospital.  Memorials may be left at or mailed to Coder Funeral Chapel, P.O. Box 151, LaBelle, Missouri 63447.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the staff at Twin Pines Adult Care Center in Kirksville, Missouri and to Kirksville Hospice.