Mary Lou Rios, age 86, of Ulysses, Kansas, died on Monday, December 4, 2023, at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City, Kansas. The daughter of Lee Martin and Delores (Rodriguez) King she was born July 24, 1937, in Garden City, Kansas.
She married Daniel Rios on June 30, 1956, in Ulysses, Kansas, and they moved to Long Beach, California, while Daniel was serving in the US Navy and then relocated back to Kansas after he served his country.
She graduated from Ulysses High School in class of 1956 and attended Garden City Community College where she was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa sorority.
She was a Para Educator for USD 214 working with grades from elementary to high school. She retired from SRS as a social worker and made a positive impact in the lives of individuals, families, and communities. She was an active member of the Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church and enjoyed teaching CCD Classes for many years. She would volunteer her time as a host for the Totus Tuus Team that would come during the summertime.
She enjoyed playing bingo, board/card games especially cribbage & scrabble, watching football/college basketball, dancing, crafting, reading, playing softball and was a member of a bowling league. She also was a Reiki Master.
She was very active in the community by serving as a Girl Scout Leader, Cub Scout Leader and was the president of the PTA.
She was a very strong, competitive, hardworking, charismatic, smart, giving, caring, and loving person. Everyone that met her was captivated by her compassion to help others and her willingness to provide comfort and friendship. Through the years she impacted many lives, families, and friends and no one was a stranger that she met.
Survivors include, husband, Daniel Rios Sr; son, Daniel Rios Jr & wife Ginger, Pennsylvania; daughter, Cynthia Bansemer, Wichita, KS; son, Joseph M Rios & wife Yolanda, Holcomb, KS; brother, Johnny Lee King, Ulysses, KS; two sisters, Rachel Applegate and Rosalie King, Hutchinson, KS; 12 grandchildren: Leticia Irons, Marissa & Bryan Rios-Procter, Brandon Bansemer, Veronica & Robert Faison, Jessica & Maria Carey-Rios, Kai & Alisha Rios, Kieran Rios, and Kiera Rios; 13 great-grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, niece, Sara King and brother-in-law, Edwin Applegate.
Visitation will be Friday, December 8, 2023, from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM at Garnand Funeral Home in Ulysses. Rosary will be Friday, December 8, 2023, at 7:00 PM and Funeral Mass will be Saturday, December 9, 2023, at 10:00 AM both at Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Ulysses, Kansas, with Reverend Eric Gyamfi officiating. Interment will follow at the Ulysses Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be given to Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 405 W. Grant Ave, Ulysses, KS 67880. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com
