Mary Ray Ayers Spirek Bursey Wilkinson of Arvada, Colorado, a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, whose life exemplified faith, hope and charity arrived to her heavenly home on February 8, 2025 after 93 years.

Mary was born in the home that still stands near Margaret Texas in Foard County and occupied by Thelma Ayers, her brother, HL Ayer's wife.  She graduated High School from Crowell, Texas in 1948.  She attended North Texas State University, West Texas State University, then graduated from Texas Tech State University in 1952 with a Bachelor of Education degree and subsequently obtained her Special Education Teaching Certificate.

Her elementary teaching career began in El Paso, Texas in 1956, teaching periodically and concluded in the Vernon Independent School District in 1986.  After retiring from education, she worked as a librarian at Center South Independent Youth Project for substance abuse in Wilbarger County, Texas.

Mary was married to David Lee Spirek from 1953 to 1973.and had 3 children with him Chauna, Laurie and David.  Many knew her during her second marriage to Charles Bursey in Vernon Texas from 1974 to 1991. She welcomed stepsons Larry Bursey and Lyn Bursey to her family. After Charles passed away, she married Lee Wilkinson in May of 1996 from Vernon Texas, eventually moving to Monte Vista, Colorado and then returning to Vernon, Texas., In 2021 after Lee went to be with our Lord, she moved closer to her daughter Chauna and grandson Joshua in Arvada, Colorado.

She frequently shared that her favorite activity was "being a mother, grandmother, and finally a Great Grandmother." She was determined to raise her children and family in the context of the local church from a young age and taught in Children's Bible School helping them memorize Bible verses and ensuring they attended Sunday School.

Mary led many to love God with all their heart mind, soul, and strength and to love others as themselves. Her life example so eloquently communicated for itself as she passed her inner strength on to her family.  Like the Proverbs 31 model she dressed herself with strength in the Lord and fulfilled her calling to be an excellent wife, far more precious than jewels. She never stopped praying for her children and was so happy when her children accepted Christ.  As called by the Lord, her son, David R. Spirek, became a career missionary, disciple maker, Pastor, and Bible teacher.

Her love for reading and books as well as biblical principles compelled her to volunteer as a church Librarian at First Baptist Church and Calvary Baptist Church in Vernon Texas and Valley Church of the Nazarene in Monte Vista, Colorado. Mary was also known to have shared in the hobby with her husband, Charles Bursey, of being an Amateur Radio operator with the call sign of WB5PHB.

As an adult Mary loved hymns and harp music and so much enjoyed the peacefulness of her Ayers family farm near Margaret, Texas. She loved that land and growing up there.  She played piano and encouraged her children to take lessons as well. She enjoyed music, especially big band music and finally was able to play a harp that she had wanted to do all her life in her in her eighties.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Henry L Roy Ayers Sr. and Rosalie Hlavaty Ayers, her sister Francis Ann Cooper and her brother Henry Lee "H.L." Ayers Jr.  She was also preceded in death by each of her 3 husbands, grandson Jonathan Evan Spirek, her granddaughter Hannah Leigh Hall Jackson and her stepson, Larry Bursey.

She is survived by her daughter Chauna Hall and grandson Joshua Hall of Arvada, Colorado, Hannah"s husband Dorion Jackson, great grandson Jeremiah Jackson of Rockwall, Texas, daughter Laurie Granlund and Karle of Campbell River, B.C. Canada, son David R. Spirek and Kim, grandson Austin Spirek, granddaughter Kaitlyn Spirek of Annville, Pennsylvania, and granddaughter Karyn Ashley Spirek of Indianapolis, Indiana. Additional survivors include Larry's daughter Tiffanie Crumbley, her family, and stepson Lyn Bursey, wife Tammy and granddaughter Amber of San Antonio, and grandson Austin of Wichita Falls, Texas.

Mary was a shining example of Jesus Christ's love, grace, strength, and self-sacrifice.  She will be the heart and soul of our family forever. We miss you dearly and will carry your love in our hearts.  May you enjoy resting in the presence of Jesus Christ, our dear sweet mother. The family will honor her request to bury some of her ashes next to Charles Bursey at the Crowell, Texas Cemetery and to be spread over her beloved family's farm land later in a private family time.

Her Celebration of Life service will begin at 3:00 pm on Friday March 21, 2025, at Sullivan Funeral Home Chapel,1801 Houston St., Vernon, Texas 76384.

Donations are appreciated and can be given on behalf of Mary Wilkinson to her son's ministry at https://gosendmeglobal.org/missionary/david-and-kim-spirek or to First Baptist Church, Vernon, Texas .