Mary Williams Gaus

Mary was born in Terre Haute, Indiana to Roy G. and Edna (Lakin) Williams, and was to be their only child.  Three years after Mary’s birth, her mother succumbed to tuberculosis.  Her maternal grandparents, Herman and Mary “Molly” (Snack) Lakin, adopted the precocious, curly headed toddler and raised her in in their still standing home in West Terre Haute.  On one side of the home lived her maternal aunt, Hyla (Lakin) Mankin and her two sons, Jack and Bill, who were more like brothers to her than cousins.  Mary’s lifelong best friend, Imogene Rose (Ellis) Ranney lived on the other side. This extended little family were devoted to each other, and shared a life-long close, loving bond that helped them endure the hardships of the Great Depression and World War II. She was proud of her family heritage, and could trace her British roots to Wales and Lancashire, England.

Molly Lakin was a founding member of Bethany Congregational Church in West Terre Haute, and ensured that Christian beliefs and the church were at the heart of her granddaughter’s life.  Mary was baptized at Bethany, and became the church organist and pianist at the age of twelve.  She continued as such until graduating from college. Throughout her life, Mary maintained a deep connection to Bethany and in later years, returned to attend Easter services.

After graduating as salutatorian from Valley High School, Mary attended Indiana State Teachers College while working full time to help support her grandparents. She later earned her Master’s in Education from the University of Denver, and then returned to Indiana to teach high school business courses. She regularly continued to send money home to support her aging grandparents. Mary finished her professional career as a teacher of business courses at Pendleton High School in Pendleton, Indiana which is where she met her husband.  In 1954 in St. John’s Lutheran Church, Mary married Charles F. Gaus, an attorney in Anderson, Indiana.  They had three children:  Laura, Lisa, and Charles “Chuck”.  Charlie and Mary remained happily married until his death in 2004.

Mary enjoyed teaching Sunday school and serving on various committees.  With a few other devoted women of the church, Mary helped create the church’s library. Mary continued to tutor many grateful students at her home in math and business courses for several years.  She was a member of the Alcott Club, the League of Women Voters, the American Association of University Women, and the Universal Problems Study Group among others.

Mary was a beautiful, graceful, and classy lady – thoughtful, kind, and giving.  She was the emotional “glue” that held her family together.  Beneath her lovely exterior dwelled a strong, disciplined, tenacious spirit, a true steel magnolia. Though reserved and private, she enjoyed authentic friendships with those she cared for.  She was an avid reader, and continued playing the piano well into her 80’s.  Mary enjoyed attending all types of cultural events and traveling, especially to Siesta Key, Florida.

Mary was dearly loved by her family, friends, and those who knew her.  She was a woman whose worth was far above rubies. After living a full and blessed life, she is now resting in peace in heaven with God, our Great Creator, her beloved Charlie, children, Granddaddy and Grandmother Lakin, Aunt Rose and Uncle Harry, other treasured family and friends, and special pets Lucy, Dog, Max, and George.

In addition to her husband, Mary was predeceased by her daughter, Laura, in 2004, her son, Chuck, in 2022, and her two “brothers”, Attorney Jack Mankin and Dr. William Mankin. She is survived by her daughter, Lisa, her daughter-in-law Diane Gaus, grandchildren Andy (Brenda), Adam (Nurcan) and Ryan (Baranda) Pierce, and several great-grandchildren.  Other survivors include two nieces, Elizabeth (Joel) Otting of Michigan and Cheryl Gaus of Florida, and several cousins.

Mary’s family wishes to express its gratitude for the compassionate, loving, and devoted staff of the facilities and caregiving companies who provided Mary with care during her final years:  Homeview Health and Rehabilitation Center, Johnson County Memorial Hospital, Fall Creek Retirement Center, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Senior 1 Care, and Home Instead (especially Elizabeth Rodriquez and Regina Gibson).

The viewing and service will be held on Wednesday, October 5 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 310 E. 53^rd Street, Anderson, Indiana 46013.  The viewing will be from 10:00am to 10:30am.  The funeral service will begin at 10:30am.  A burial service will follow at Anderson Memorial Park.  Those attending the service with health concerns may consider wearing a face mask.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests charitable donations be made to: Bethany Congregational Church, 201 W. Miller Street, West Terre Haute, Indiana 47885; St. John’s Lutheran Church, 310 E. 53^rd Street, Anderson, Indiana 46013; or the Anderson Public Library, 111 East 12^th Street, Anderson, Indiana 46016       https://www.and.lib.in.us/support-your-library