Mary Joanna Richards

Mary Joanna Richards

Mary Joanna (Carson) Richards, 91, of Nashville, died at 10:55 PM, on Friday, July 12, 2019, at Friendship Manor Healthcare Center in Nashville, IL.

Mary Joanna was born to John Elwyn and Edna Joanna (Adams) Carson on April 24, 1928, on a farm East of Oakdale, IL.  She was united in marriage to William Jewel Richards on May 27, 1949, by her uncle, Rev. Melville K. Carson, in the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Oakdale.  She and her husband, Bill, were married for 70 wonderful years, and he survives her passing.

Joanna rode a pony all eight years to grade school; and graduated from Nashville High School.  She then attended Southern Illinois University, after which she taught in Washington County for three years, all in one-room school houses.  She was a devoted homemaker and enjoyed quilting and also helped her husband in the Richards’ Radio & TV store in Nashville.  She was a loving Christian wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, and she loved spending time with her family.  She was a member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Oakdale until its closing, and then attended the First Baptist Church in Nashville.  At the time of her death, she was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Nashville, where her nephew, Phil Carson, is the Pastor.  She was a member of the Reformed Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Society, and also taught Sunday school.  She was also a member of the Trails Crossing Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Washington County Home Extension and the Washington County Historical Society.

Besides her husband, Mary Joanna is survived by two sons, Gary William (Ruth Ann) Richards of Nashville, IL and Mark Carson Richards of Granite City, IL; a daughter, Gail Ann (Kurt) Schamel of Brentwood, MO; 7 grandchildren, Shawn (Christina) Richards, Erica (Kevin Hiatt) Richards, Dustin (Emily) Richards, Abigail (Timothy) Kleinschmidt, Carter (Mary Flook) Schamel, Elizabeth Schamel and Rebecca Schamel; six great grandchildren, two step-great grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Barbara (Fred) Niedermeyer; brother-in-law, Dale (Jeanette) Richards; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother and sister-in-law, Preston and Jane Carson and sister and brother-in-law, Eileen and William Auld.

Funeral services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Nashville, IL on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 at 11 AM with Pastor Phil Carson officiating.  Interment will follow at the Masonic Cemetery in Nashville, IL.

Friends may call at the First Presbyterian Church in Nashville on Wednesday from 9 AM until the service hour.

Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church or the Masonic Cemetery and will be accepted by the Campagna Funeral Home, who is assisting the family with arrangements.

Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.campagnafuneralhomes.com.

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