Mary Frances FlandersBoulder, CO

Mary Frances Flanders, beloved mother, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away peacefully on June 14, 2026, in Boulder, Colorado.

Mary was born on April 3, 1945, in Gridley, Kansas, at the home of her cherished Aunt Faye to her parents Imon Huber and Wilma Griffin Huber.  The middle of five children, she was raised on the family farm just outside of town. Called “Maude” by her father, she remembered life on the farm fondly — helping with chores and getting “fantastic” tans during hay season. As a teenager, she recalled being so desperate to “go to town” that she drove the family tractor to get there.

After graduating from Gridley High School, she took a leap and left for the big city of Topeka. Her favorite cousin, Bill, introduced her to Arthur Lee Flanders, whom she married in Topeka on May 2, 1964.  Art and Mary made their home in Madison, Kansas. She was a talented painting and wallpaper contractor for many years, working alongside her sister Bev to beautify homes throughout the Emporia region. Later, she brought those same skills and eye for detail to help her customers at Home Depot improve their own homes.

Mary’s greatest calling came in the early 2000s when she sold her home and moved West for—of course—her grandchildren. She made Colorado her home, attending nearly every grandchild activity she could and making many dear friends along the way. She loved interesting people and things, nicotine, coffee, mornings on the porch, Walmart grocery delivery, and her scooter. She loathed customer service call systems, poor-quality sheets, and bras.

Mary proudly had a dry sense of humor and approached life with a light heart, but when someone had a need, she was always there.

She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, White Rose Chapter #297.

Mary is survived by her son, Spencer Flanders of Aurora, Colorado; her daughter, Andrea Bell and her husband Boyd of Lafayette, Colorado; her sisters, Beverly Birk of Gridley and Nancy Kile of El Dorado; her granddaughter, Libby Bell and her fiancé Jake Stadick of New Ulm, Minnesota; her grandson, Samuel Bell of Lafayette; her sister-in-law, Donna Willmon of Topeka, her sister-in-law, Clarice Weakley, MO, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Art; her son, Casey; her parents; and her brothers, Ed and Joe Huber.

Visitation with the family will be held from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, June 26, at Jones Funeral Home, 801 Garrettson Street in Burlington. A memorial service is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 27, at the United Methodist Church, 517 Atherly Street in Gridley, with burial to follow.

Memorial contributions may be made to There After Foster Care, in care of Jones Funeral Home, PO Box 277, Burlington, KS 66839. You can learn more about this charity, which supports young adults aging out of foster care, at www.thereafterfostercare.org.

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