Mary Louise Poole, 94, on Monday, October 12, 2015, resolved for herself the mystery of our common human existence (or not). A native of Elwood and a resident for all but 10 of those years, she was born March 25, 1921; attended Wendell L. Willkie High School; and was a wife, mother, and devoted homemaker. She married Eugene W. Poole on April 3,1941, and they shared 39 years of marriage together. Mary subsequently worked at Hook's Drugstore in Elwood as a clerk and the Elwood Community High School as a custodian. For many years she enjoyed collecting antiques, especially furniture and glassware; and crocheted and knitted for much of her life, leaving behind a rainbow of afghans among her family and friends. She was also an avid follower of the lives of movies and actors, given to quizzing family members about the details of stars' lives to which she already knew the answers. Mary formerly attended, with many good lady friends, the First United Methodist Church in Elwood.

Mary was the only daughter of the late Frederick Harrison Cox and Mable (Woodward) Cox, proprietors of the long-time Elwood eatery, Coxie's Lunch Room. She had two brothers, Warren Edward Cox and John William "Bill" Cox, who both preceded her in death. Her beloved husband, Eugene W. Poole passed away on April 16, 1980. Of her generation she is survived by her cousin Jack A. Woodward and her sister-in-law Rosemary Haines.

Of later generations she is survived by her two sons, Darryl Gene and Steven Warren; daughters-in-law Judith Kay and Joy Marie; five grandchildren, Darren Chapman Poole, Sarah Gail Poole, Jason Christopher Poole, Adrienne Marie Poole, and Christopher Steven Poole; and three great-grandchildren, Jasmine White and Mila and Jovan Poole; her nephew, Eddie Jo Cox (wife Carrie), and nieces, Linda Cox King and Sharon Cox-Ward.

A funeral service celebrating Mary's life will be conducted at 2:00 PM on Saturday, October 17, 2015 at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home in Elwood with Rev. Jennifer Charles of the First United Methodist Church, and members of Mary's family officiating. Burial will follow in the Elwood City Cemetery. Visitation will be held from Noon to 2 PM at the funeral home prior to the service on Saturday at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Vincent Mercy Hospital Foundation through the funeral home. Online condolences may be made to the Poole family at: www.copherfeslermay.com.