Mary Margaret (Hawley) Retter

On 24th October 2023 at 3:18 PM, Mary Margaret (Hawley) Retter went to be with the Lord. Born on 21st April 1932 to Ernest and Florence (Malott) Hawley, she was the second oldest of six children. She graduated Winchester High School on 25th May 1950 and went on to attend Amber’s Beauty School and became a beautician, opening her own “Mary Retter Beauty Salon”.  On 29th December 1950, she became an Order of the Eastern Star (OES) member of Chapter 60 in Winchester, where she served the order as their organist.  In 1950, on 6th July, she married Ward Retter in Marion, Indiana. After his service in the U.S. Navy, they decided to start a family and have five children, Margaret Jayne (Retter) Daly, Douglas Ward Retter, Nancy Jeanne (Retter) Foudray, Shawn Daniel Retter, and Shane Darren Retter.  She was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church in Winchester and served as a volunteer from the church for the Local Food Pantry for many years.

She enjoyed playing the piano and organ for The First United Methodist Church, the Order of the Eastern Star, several local mortuaries, and even gave piano lessons for a while.  She also enjoyed remodeling projects at her own house and with several apartments that she had owned. Often, she could be found visiting with family, friends, and neighbors or enjoying many different classic television shows.  She was fond of animals since she was a little girl, having a pet horse Hilda Mae and a cow Gertrude “Gert”, and several dogs and cats throughout her life.

She is survived by her five children: Margaret Jayne (Retter) Daly (husband Dave) of Winchester, Douglas Ward Retter (wife Tammie) of Winchester, Nancy Jeanne (Retter) Foudray (husband Rick) of Winchester, Shawn Daniel Retter of Winchester, and Shane Darren Retter (fiancé Tara) of Muncie.  She is also survived by two brothers: Howard “Bud” Hawley of Winchester and John Hawley (wife Fran) of Winchester and six grandchildren: Timothy “Chuck” Michael Sims (wife Maggie), Matthew Daly (wife Catie), Mark Daly (wife Amanda), Megan (Daly) Hersberger (husband Eric), Gracie Retter, Maxwell Retter, and several great grandchildren: Mavery Sims, Mason Sims, Maleah Sims, Maizey Sims, Hallie Hersberger, Liam Daly.

Visitation will be at Walker Funeral Home on Wednesday, 1st November from 4 PM to 6 PM with Order of Eastern Star services at the end of the visitation.  Funeral services will be on 2nd November at 2 PM. Burial will be at Fountain Park Cemetery. Reverend Ken Rickett and Pastor Ben Lang will both be officiating. Memorials may be given in lieu of flowers to the Animal Rescue Fund (ARF).

Walker Funeral Home in Winchester is entrusted with the arrangements. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.walkerswinchester.com.

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