Mary Ann Carl

Mary Ann Carl, 86, of Pekin, Illinois passed away on October 11, 2025 at the OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria.

Mary Ann was born in Pekin on January 1, 1939 to John A. and Mary Louise (Scruggs) Gleason. She married Walter (Walt) William Carl on October 22, 1966, and the two enjoyed nearly 60 years of marriage. Together, they raised four girls. Walt, 86, passed away on December 29, 2023 at Carle Health Pekin Hospital.

Strong-willed, faithful, independent and empathetic, Mary Ann continues to serve as a source of inspiration for many. Her unwavering devotion to God guided her in everything she did, and she was a treasured member of the First United Methodist Church. She was also involved with several charitable organizations, which she loved contributing to until her final days: First United Methodist Women (formerly God’s Gals), Church Women United, and the Naomi-Rachel Circle. She cherished the wonderful friends she made through these groups.

Mary Ann was hard-working and self-sufficient. She stayed home to raise her four daughters and worked at Bergner’s, in the fine jewelry department, for over a decade. She was frugal and no-nonsense, even featured in the Peoria Journal Star for her command of couponing. She always took care of her mind and body, and looked after her husband, especially at the end of his life, with diligence and grace.

Mary Ann never knew a stranger, making friends easily and only seeing the best in anyone she happened to come across. She deeply appreciated and admired friends from every chapter of her life. She always took the bus when she could to witness as many people as possible, and she loved to connect with those of all backgrounds. Recalling her encounters later, she was often brought to tears — she loved to see people persist and make beauty of even the most difficult circumstances. True stories of tenacity and kindness always made her cry.

Mary Ann is survived by her four daughters — Diana (Glenn) Beccue of Normal, Amy Wilson of Wilmette, Lisa (Tony) Proctor of Peoria, and Mary Carl O’Connor of Bloomington. She has nine grandchildren — Alicia (Arnold) Hernandez, Adam (Kristen) Beccue, Taylor Beccue, Abigail and Nicholas Wilson, Camryn Proctor, Edward Bridges-O’Connor, and Claudia and Elle O’Connor — and seven great grandchildren: Makayla and Chase Grimes, Bella and Jack Beccue, and Leti, Mateo, and Andrés Hernandez. She is also survived by her brother, John Gleason of Arizona.

Mary Ann donated her body to the Anatomical Gift Association of Illinois. Private graveside services will be held at a later date at Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin. Henderson Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with her arrangements.

Her family is incredibly grateful to the extraordinary staff at the OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home, who filled the last days of Mary Ann’s life with peace, respect, and love — thank you for caring for her, and for us.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 1315 Court Street, Pekin, IL 61554 and the Cunningham Children’s Home, 1301 North Cunningham Avenue, Urbana, IL 61802.

Now, as Mary Ann would often say after catching up with her many loved ones, "I think we’ve covered all the bases."

He knows, He loves, He cares;

Nothing this truth can dim. 
He gives the very best to those

Who leave the choice to Him.

- An excerpt from The Weaver, a poem by Grant Tullar