Mary A. Rouse

Mary Alice Rouse

March 22, 1944 — July 16, 2026

Mary Alice Rouse, 82, of Wichita, Kansas, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and nurse, passed away very peacefully on Thursday, July 16, 2026.

Mary was born on March 22, 1944, in Concordia, Kansas, and grew up in Clifton, Kansas, alongside her two cherished and loved sisters, Gay Hohner and Ann Gleason. She held a deep, lifelong love for her grandmothers, Alice Thomas and Sylvia Welsh, and treasured her fondest memories growing up and spending time on the Thomas family farm, as well as the special moments shared with her aunt and uncle, Wilton and Nada Thomas, and she cared about cousin Pam Soeken and their family.

From an early age, Mary excelled intellectually. She was a gifted honor student who maintained that academic greatness throughout middle school, high school, and her college years, showing a particular brilliance for the sciences. Beyond her academic achievements, she was actively involved in school life, proudly serving as a majorette and showcasing her musical talents by playing the clarinet and the piano and played the organ at her church. Her sharp mind and deep compassion naturally guided her toward a life of caretaking, leading her to attend Kansas Wesleyan University and Asbury to pursue her calling as a nurse.

Early in her career, Mary worked as a nurse at St. Francis and at Wesley, where she specialized in medications and helped deliver many babies. Later on, her nursing focus largely shifted toward caring for elderly individuals and those facing critical illnesses. Across her entire life, Mary was remarkably blessed to be in the right place at the right time on numerous occasions, stepping in to save many lives. Serving people in this capacity was one of the profound ways she connected with God and lived out her faith every day. She possessed a true servant’s spirit, living out the truth that the pure in heart shall see God, and her gentle, non-judgmental nature allowed her to love the unlovable and embrace those who needed grace the most. It was not uncommon for her to go the extra mile to serve individuals facing a health crisis, doing so at times without any expectation of payment. That same genuine heart and compassionate mindset flowed naturally into every single area of her daily life. Beyond her professional career, Mary passionately dedicated herself to the American Red Cross for over 30 years. She took immense pride in this vital mission, showing unwavering commitment and never missing a moment to provide support being there weekly like clockwork.

On April 2, 1972, Mary married the love of her life, Robert Wilson Rouse. They shared a happily devoted, beautiful marriage for 48 years until his passing. Their lives were deeply blessed by their son, John, daughter-in-law, Rebecca, and two beloved grandchildren, Abigail and Gideon. Mary's loyalty to her husband never wavered, and her commitment to her family was absolute. She was deeply grateful for her loving in-laws, Kenneth and Elizabeth Rouse, as well as her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Melinda and Kris Kimple, Rhonda and Charlie Weaver, and Susan Rouse.

Mary and Robert shared an extraordinary, close-knit relationship with their son, John—a bond that was deeply mutual and essential to every single one of them. John had known from an early age that he would care for his parents, carrying that devotion as a core part of who he was. Together with his wife, Rebecca, they stood by Mary and Robert with selfless, sacrificial love through every season. This profound connection was a two-way street of constant strength, comfort, and protection, sustaining both the parents and their son alike, and John cherishes the profound privilege of honoring and caring for his folks as one of the greatest blessings of his life. Furthermore, Mary was completely crazy about her grandkids, pouring out boundless love and endless embraces upon them. She loved bragging on them, cherishing their pictures, and following everything they were doing.

Mary was truly nice, sweet, and gentle—whether out in public or quietly behind the scenes. She was a woman who remarkably never complained, never raised her voice, and exercised extraordinary patience. She possessed a rare and steady grace, maintaining her dark hair (which she kept long throughout her adult life, except for just one time) and striking hazel-green eyes. She was free of cynicism or snark, remaining deeply honest, faithful, and kind every single day.

She lived by the philosophy that people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. True to those words, Mary worked extremely hard to take a genuine interest in others, actively listening and memorizing people’s names even up to the very end of her life. Rather than dominating a conversation, she preferred to quietly listen and learn about others.

Mary was long active at First Baptist Church (which is now City Life Church), where she deeply cherished her faith community and spiritual home.

An accomplished musician, Mary loved old hymns and played the piano with great beauty, continuing to play the piano well into her later years until her most recent illness. Her lifelong love of music was a central thread throughout her days. In her senior years, she also loved participating in a bell choir and had most recently joined a community choir, thoroughly enjoying both. Beyond her music, she stayed active participating in arts and crafts, playing games including bingo, putting in miles on the stationary bike, and enthusiastically mastering the art of chair dancing—proving that you don't need a dance floor to have rhythm.

Mary found immense joy in gardening. In their later years, she and Robert maintained a wonderful garden together where they grew massive sunflowers alongside plenty of zinnias. She adored the outdoors, watching for butterflies, and gazing at the moon, sunsets, and sunrises, praising God for His creation and connecting with Him in a deeply special way out in nature. She was known for constantly using jars and mason jars as vases to hold fresh flowers and vegetables, giving them out at every opportunity to encourage neighbors, church members, and even perfect strangers throughout the year. She also cherished taking walks with her husband and son, and loved having picnics as frequently as possible—whether out in the backyard, at a local park, or along the road during a trip, turning many ordinary moments into shared meals and cherished memories.

Her life was anchored in a profound, unshakable faith. As her favorite scripture reminds us, "These three things remain: Faith, Hope, and Love, but the greatest of these is Love." She lived out the philosophy to "preach the gospel often, and if necessary, use words." She is forever anchored to that love and great peace in Christ Jesus alone, knowing that God loved the real Mary Rouse personally.

Mary is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Robert Rouse, and by her parents, George and Margaret Singular. She is survived by her son, John (Rebecca) Rouse; her grandchildren, Abigail and Gideon Rouse; and her sisters, Gay Hohner and Ann Gleason.

Services

Visitation: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Monday, August 3rd, at Broadway Mortuary

Funeral Service: 10:00 AM, Tuesday, August 4th, at City Life Church (in the Chapel)