Mary Alice (Fleming) Craven, 87, of Hays, Kansas, and formerly of Russell, Kansas, passed away Sunday, June 23, 2019 at the Hays Medical Center.

Mary Alice was born March 7, 1932, in Ellsworth County, Kansas.  She was one of five children born to Hazen and Edith (Bailey) Fleming.  She grew up in Ellsworth and graduated from Ellsworth High School.  She then attended Ft. Hays State University where she graduated with a degree in Nursing.

Mary Alice was united in marriage to Harold Dean Craven on June 10, 1956 in Ellsworth.  This union was blessed with three children; David Allan, Michael Dean and Lois Lee.  They made their home in Ellsworth until 1965 when they moved to Russell.  Then in 1975, they moved to Hays.  Harold preceded her in death on January 28, 1996.

Mary Alice was a Registered Nurse for St. Anthony’s Hospital in Hays for over 23 years before retiring.  She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Hays.  In her spare time she enjoyed sewing, tending her flowers in her garden, oil painting, bird watching and going to the Hays Senior Center.

Mary’s surviving family include her two sons, David Allan Craven (Rosalyn) of Hays, Kansas and Michael Dean Craven (Darla) of Hays, Kansas; sister, Dorothy Lacey of Abilene, Kansas; five grandchildren, Chad LaRue, Dennis Craven, Jeremy LaRue, Toni Craven and Frances Lamb.  Mary was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Harold; daughter, Lois; son-in-law, David LaRue; three brothers and grandchild, Shawn Asavadilokchi.

Celebration of Mary’s Life will be held at 10:30 A.M., Friday, June 28, 2019 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell.  Burial will follow at the Russell City Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Thursday, June 27, 2019 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.  Condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.