Mary Ann Elder Grott, formerly of Sedalia, Missouri, passed away October 21, 2023. Mary Ann was born in Claryville, Missouri, on May 25, 1928, the youngest daughter of Elmo and Sophia (Esselman) Elder.
She married Kenneth Grott on June 9, 1951. They were married 64 years when Ken passed away in 2015. Mary Ann and Ken raised four children in Belleville, Illinois, then moved to Sedalia, Missouri, where they lived from 1965 to 2014, finally settling in St. Mary’s, Georgia, to be closer to family.
Mary Ann is fondly remembered by her grandchildren as “Ma” in her strawberry kitchen baking Christmas cookies and cakes, and the smoothest mashed potatoes ever tasted, and for raising beautiful flowers. She took pride in handing out Grandma dollars, and elbow kisses, and maintaining her unbeaten streak in Chinese checkers.
Mary Ann was a long-time parishioner of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and member of Daughters of Isabella and Sacred Heart Bible Study group. As a young girl, she helped on the family’s farm, and though unable to finish high school in her youth, she later completed her GED.
She was incredibly knowledgeable about family history and relished her role in documenting the family’s genealogy. She was a full-time mother and homemaker for most of her adult life. Before raising her children, Mary Ann worked for International Shoe Company in Perryville, and Belleville, Illinois.
During the 1970s, she worked as a nurse’s aide at Fairview Nursing Home in Sedalia and for Pettis County Home Health.
Surviving Mary Ann are one brother, Linus Elder, and his wife, Nellie, of Waterloo, Illinois; three children, Julie Cook (Roger), Callahan, Florida, Cynthia Bohn (James), Atlanta, Georgia, William Grott , Grant, Florida; five grandchildren, Adam Grott (Anna), Damian Cook (Edie), Lauren Bohn Radman (Ivan), Diana Cook, and Brittany Bohn; and six great-grandchildren. Preceding Mary Ann in death were her son James Grott; sisters Gladys Romann, Merida Anderson, Dorothy Elder, Audrey Elder; and brothers Elmo “Bud” Elder, Glennon Elder, and George Elder.
Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 am, Saturday, November 25, 2023, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Sacred Heart Chapel with Fr. Joe Corel as celebrant. Inurnment will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10-10:40am, at the church, followed by a rosary and Daughter of Isabella service.
The family suggests memorial donations be made to Sacred Heart Foundation, 421 West Third Street, Sedalia, MO 65301, or the charity of your choice. Memorials may be left at or mailed to McLaughlin Funeral Chapel, 519 S. Ohio St., Sedalia, MO 65301.
