Mary Elizabeth Vetters

Mary Elizabeth Vetters, aged 93, went to be with the Lord on October 6, 2024. She was born in Detroit, Michigan, on March 26, 1931, to Charles and Jesse Davis.

On March 17, 1951, she married Kenneth Earl Vetters, and they were faithfully married for 63 years until his death in 2014. After receiving her bachelor's degree in childhood education from Asbury College in 1952 she and Ken served the Metamora, Robinson Chapel, Hillsboro, and Waynetown Methodist churches in Indiana while Ken completed his theological studies. After his ordination, Mary and Ken served in Sumatra, Indonesia, as missionaries under the Methodist Board of Missions from 1956 to 1963. Upon returning to Indiana, Mary and Ken served several congregations in the South Indiana Conference of the Methodist Church—Bicknell Methodist Church, Brookville United Methodist Church, Bartlett Chapel UMC/Shiloh UMC (a two-point charge near Avon), and East Columbus UMC. When Mary and Ken retired from ministry in 1991, they moved to a house Ken built on his family farm south of Greenfield. They were active in Trinity Park UMC in Greenfield for many years.

Mary was always a teacher at heart. She was a long-term substitute teacher in the Avon school system and worked in an after-school program for at-risk students at Fodrea Elementary while they lived in Columbus. She taught Sunday School at churches they served, ending her long Christian education career by teaching Sunday School at Trinity Park UMC for many years.

Mary is survived by her children: Cynthia (John) Lanning, Palm Bay, FL; Charles (Debra) Vetters, Greenfield, IN; Timothy (Diane) Vetters, Nicholasville, KY; Daniel (Jill) Vetters, Indianapolis, IN.

She is also survived by several grandchildren: Johnny Lanning, Vince Lanning, Asa Vetters, Varee Crank, Mathea Moore, Camille Young, Anna Rinehart, Nathanael Vetters, Mara Vetters, Abigail Vetters, and Julia Vetters. Mary’s great grandchildren are; Sophia, Theodore, Gideon, Mazie, Verity, Imogen, Peter, Emma, and Julianna.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Barbara Jones, husband, son Jonathan, and granddaughter Rachel.

Friends may visit from 1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at Mt. Lebanon Community Church, 3447 IN 9, Greenfield, IN 46140. The visitation will be facilitated by Mary’s granddaughter Reverend Mara Vetters. (Mara is the first of Mary’s grandchildren to enter full time Christian service and Mary was very proud.) A private family graveside service will follow.

Memorial donations may be directed to Trinity Park Church’s Faith Promise Missions Fund, Trinity Park Church 207 W Park Ave Greenfield IN 46140