Mary H. Bender Cook, 91, of Mt. Vernon, Illinois passed away at 12:18 P.M. on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at her home. Mary was born on December 2, 1919 in Woodlawn, Illinois the daughter of the late D.A. "Tom" Stephenson and Katherine (Watson) Stephenson. She first married Lowell D. Bender and he preceded her in death on March 12, 1985. She later married William F. Cook and he preceded her in death on December 31, 1995. Surviving family members include her 2 sons: Bill Bender and wife Alice of Omaha, NE and William Frank Cook, II and wife Floria of Milpitas, CA; 2 daughters: Carmen (Bender) Oslager and husband Bill of Mt. Vernon, Illinois and Billie Lynn (Cook) Rouse and husband Jim of Encinitas, CA; grandchildren: Karen Oslager-Harbin and Don Hessell of Raymore, MO, William Mark Oslager and wife Twila of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, Scott William and wife Jessica Bender of Virginia, Mary Elizabeth Cook of Milpitas, California, Frank Cook of Milpitas, California, Thomas Cook of Milpitas, California, Michael Cook of Milpitas, California, Kim Evans of Encinitas, California, Brandy Grant and husband Kevin of Walnut Creek, California, Joseph Daggett of Quincy, Illinois, John and Melissa Daggett of Quincy, Illinois and Jeff and Barbara Daggett of Paola, KS and other grandchildren; great grandchildren: Brandon M. Sears of Ludlow, MA, Daniel Montgomery of Ina, Illinois, Joshua W.T. Sears of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, Bradie M. Oslager of Johnston City, Illinois, Brittany Jackson of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, Nick Jackson of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, Madison Daggett of Quincy, Illinois, Michael Daggett of Paola, KS, Allison Daggett of Paola, KS, Parker and Hayden Grant of Walnut Creek, California and other great grandchildren: great great grandchildren: Chase Bender of Virginia, Izak Jackson and Lailah Jackson both of Mt. Vernon, Illinois and other great great grandchildren. Her parents and husbands both preceded her in death. Mary was a member of Park Avenue Baptist Church since 1965 and was a long time member of Rebekah Lodge. She was a member of the ladies pinochle group in Woodlawn, Illinois and they all had a great time together. She lover her children, grandchildren, and great and great great grandchildren and enjoyed being a part of their lives. Mary loved to travel and fish and up until 1967 was a big part of her father's phone company Woodlawn Telephone Company in Woodlawn, Illinois. VISITATION: will be held from 5 to 8:00 P.M. on Sunday, April 3, 2011 at Hughey Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. MORNING VISITATION: will be held from 9:30 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. on Monday, April 4, 2011 at Park Avenue Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. FUNERAL SERVICES: will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, April 4, 2011 at Park Avenue Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Reverend Chuck Ellis and Reverend Beth Ellis will officiate. INTERMENT: Woodlawn Oddfellows Cemetery in Woodlawn, Illinois. For those who wish memorials may be given to Alzheimer's Association, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or Nutrition on Weekends Program (United Way) and will be accepted at the funeral home, church or may be mailed to Hughey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 721, Mt. Vernon, Illinois 62864.