Mary Scott Obituary

Scott, Mary Longpre A long-time resident of Hinsdale, passed away on July 28th, 2013. Born in Kankakee, Illinois and a graduate of DePauw University, she first worked selling jewelry at Marshall Field's, teaching music in Kankakee, and as a trainer for Bell Telephone. To see the world, she joined the American Red Cross during World War II, where she served as captain of a Clubmobile in the European Theater. As a "Doughnut Dolly", she provided doughnuts, coffee and conversation to the troops, and found herself driving a two-ton truck. After the war, she returned to Kankakee and helped establish the first Red Cross non-profit blood bank in Illinois. In notes she left for her family, she wrote "I was executive secretary during all of this and really feel more pride in this than in the overseas Red Cross it had a bigger scope." Mary married Tom Gunning in 1952 and moved to the Hinsdale area. When her husband died seven years later, she was left with three young children - Jeanne, David and Patrick Gunning. Several years later she met and married John Scott and welcomed his three children Tom, Nancy, and Marcia - into her life. Union Church was an important part of her life. She served on the executive committee, was active with the women's association, sang in the choir and supplied drawings for "What Every Woman Knows", the women's association newsletter. As a charter member of the Salt Creek Tennis Club, she played tennis into her eighties. She was an avid photographer, and as a lifelong learner and adventurer she traveled extensively and learned to fly single-engine airplanes while in her seventies. She was a charter member of "The Adorables", the King-Bruwaert dance troupe, giving the group its name. Mary is survived by her children, Jeanne Gunning, Pat Gunning, Tom Scott, Nancy Scott-Rudnick, and Marcia Scott, and was predeceased by her son, David Gunning. Her grandchildren, David and Sarah Scott, Michael and Rebecca Scott-Rudnick, and Kathleen and Matthew Gunning McDaniel, each learned how to graciously lose a game of cards by playing with their grandmother, who refused to let them win just because they were young. She loved her children-in-law, Cliff Scott-Rudnick, Kent McDaniel, Larry Leonard (and could always find a large boulder for them to move or a rock wall to build), Maryellen Scott, Sandy Gunning and Hana Field (her bonus daughters). Mary leaves behind a legacy of adventure and volunteerism, of daring greatly, of speaking one's mind, and of commitment to family. Her family will always remember her at the head of a long table of family and friends, raising a glass of wine while singing a little ditty she composed, and kicking up her heels in a joyful dance. A memorial celebration will be held at Union Church, 137 S. Garfield, Hinsdale, IL on Friday, September 20th at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The American Red Cross or Adventist St. Thomas Hospice of Hinsdale.