Mary Frances Busch, 92, Carthage, Missouri, passed away Thursday morning, October 13, 2022, at Oak Pointe of Carthage. Mary was born October 19, 1929, in Carthage, Missouri, the daughter of the late Lewis K. Cortez and Leta M. (Irwin) Cortez. She was a 1947 graduate of Lincoln High School in Carthage, and later attended Joplin Junior College. She married Lewis Oliver Busch, and to this union, two children were born; they later divorced. She was the property manager at Highland Acres Apartments in Carthage until her retirement. She worked as the assistant office manager at Deerfield Apartments and as an office assistant at the Carthage Jr. and Sr. High School. She also worked for the late Bob and Doris Knell. Mary was a member of Wesley Methodist Church in Carthage. Mary loved to travel with her daughter and their special North Carolina friends. She enjoyed sports. And she always loved spending time with her family.
Survivors include a daughter, Mary Benita “Teena” Busch, Durham, North Carolina; a son, Lewis Busch, Carthage, Missouri; two granddaughters, Tisha Baker, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Danielle Busch, Joplin, Missouri; four great-grandchildren, Jeffrey Buckner, Ja Ron Baker, Dacia Busch, and Dedan Busch-Roberson; four brothers, Ralph Cortez, Joplin, Missouri, Bruce Cortez (Nancy), Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Carroll “C.A.” Cortez (Donna), Las Cruces, New Mexico, and Cedric Cortez (Jan), Carthage, Missouri; two sisters, Connie Moss, Joplin, Missouri, and Sandra Griffin, Webb City, Missouri; several nieces and nephews; and many extended family and friends.
She was also preceded in death by three brothers, Lewis Cortez, Arthur Cortez, and Shirrell Cortez.
Funeral services will be held at 11 am, Tuesday, October 18, 2022, at Forest Park Baptist Church, Joplin, Missouri. The burial will be held at 2 pm following the service at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Carthage. The family will receive friends from 5-7 pm, Monday, October 17, 2022, at Knell Mortuary, Carthage. Memorial gifts are suggested to Alzheimer’s Association in care of Knell Mortuary. Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Knell Mortuary.
