Mary Ella Waggener, 85, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, April 13, 2014 at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Sept. 12, 1928 in Bonne Terre, Mo.  She married John "Jack" Waggener, Sr., a graduate of the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, in July, 1948.

Mary Ella graduated from Charleston High School and attended the University of Missouri. She thoroughly enjoyed being an army wife.

Survivors include her husband; three sons, John, Jr. (Karen) of Cape Girardeau, Drake of Telluride, Colo., Robert of Norwood, Colo.; daughter, Mary of Cape Girardeau; two grandchildren, Peyton and Laura; sister, Margaret "Peggy" (William) McNeary of Charleston, Mo.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harvey and Mary Drake.

A memorial service will be Thursday, April 17, 2014 at 3:00 pm at Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Funeral Home with the Revs. Jim Sanderson and Karen Nothdurft officiating.

Burial will be at IOOF Cemetery in Charleston at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Charleston United Methodist Church, 1700 E. Marshall St., Charleston, MO 63834 or to the Centenary United Methodist Church, 300 N. Ellis, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.