Mary Anna Speller of Franklin, IN, was born October 9, 1937 in Louisville, KY and passed away May 9, 2024 in her home with her family present.  Both Cynthia and Paul (daughter and son) were grateful to have had the opportunity to care for her during this important time.  Her neighbor-friends, Teresa, Noemi, and Melissa assisted in her care, which allowed her to remain in her home.

Mary Anna was raised in Louisville, KY and immersed in a culture of service through her family and their UCC Church (formerly E&R).  She graduated from Heidelberg College and married Lou Speller days after graduation.  The two started their years of faithful service in St. Louis, she as Christian Educator and he as student pastor.

The myriad activities she led would fill pages.  She volunteered on UCC national, Conference, and Association level committees, as well and secular organizations. Locally, she enjoyed working with Johnson County United Way, matching families and gifters in the Christmas Angels program.

The Indiana-Kentucky Disaster Response group became a labor of love for Mary Anna and Lou, as they spent hours and miles coordinating community long-term recovery programs and work camps.

She felt great joy and accomplishment working for Indiana-Kentucky Conference UCC as the Christian Educator empowering local churches to be creative in sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

United Church Homes was so important to her that she continued to participate, as she was able just months before she passed.

For their years of dedicated service, the Indiana-Kentucky initiated the annual Lou and Mary Anna Speller Humanitarian Award.  They will be long remembered for their faithful service.

Mary Anna was the embodiment of "...as you did to the least of these, you did it to me." [Matthew 25:40]

Mary Anna was preceded in death by her husband, Lou, her brother Bob Reid, and her sister-in-law, Jean Reid.

She is survived by her daughter, Cynthia M. Speller of Columbus, OH (Bill Holschuh), son Paul Speller (Cea-daughter-in-law and granddaughter, Alana) of Springfield, IL, and her sister Sue Reid (Jon Strandberg) of Williamsburg, VA.

Pastor Bert Kite will conduct a celebration of life service on Sunday, June 23, 2024 at 2PM at Prince of Peace United Church of Christ, 3050 West Smokey Road, Greenwood, IN 46143 with a luncheon immediately follow the service at the church.

It is requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to any of the following, Heidelberg University, 310 East Market Street, Tiffin, OH 44883 or at www.heidelberg.edu/alumni/giving-options, or the Indiana Kentucky Conference of the United Church of Christ Disaster Response Ministry, 100 West 42nd Street, Suite 155, Indianapolis, IN 46208 or at www.ikcucc.org/giving, or the Eden Theological Seminary, to Eden Seminary c/o Advancement Office, 475 East Lockwood Ave., St. Louis, MO 63119 or at www.eden.edu/donation-form or St. Thomas Clinic, 600 Paul Hand Road, Franklin, IN 46131 or at www.saintthomasclinic.org/donate or Prince of Peace Church, 3050 West Smokey Row Road, Greenwood, IN 46143.

Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center, 300 South U.S. 31 (Morton Street) in Franklin, IN is handling the arrangements.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.swartzmortuary.com.  Information 317-738-0202.