Mary Elaine Stark

Mary Elaine Cocks Stark left this world April 24, 2017 at the age of 91. She is survived by her five children; Howard Stark, Doug Stark, Marie Stark Miller, Deb Stark Mitchell and Amy Stark, eleven grandchildren; Holly Stark Burr, Jason Stark, Melissa Stark, Nick Stark, Elizabeth Stark Payne, Josh Stark, Adam Miller, Elaine Miller Streets, Courtney Hemenway and Sarah Zoubaa; and her eight great-grandchildren; Kaylee and Cassie Burr; Jack, Mia, Annalise, and Sullivan Stark; and Corey and Victoria Payne.

Mary was born in Des Moines, Iowa, the third and youngest child of Marie and Harry Cocks. The family moved to Fort Wayne when she was 16 where she attended South Side High School and worked for her father at Marco, his tool and die company. While at South Side she made several life-long friends including her best friend Jo, and her future husband Jack Stark.

After graduation, Mary worked at Lincoln Bank then married Jack in 1946. They lived in Key West for a few months while Jack served in the Navy, and then moved to West Lafayette, where Jack completed his degree at Purdue while Mary began her career as a homemaker and Mom. They moved back to Fort Wayne where Jack began his career at I&M and Mary became the consummate executive’s wife while juggling the lives of five kids.

As the keeper of family traditions, Mary was an amazing mother and grandmother who crocheted dozens of afghans and embroidered Christmas Stockings for all her kids and grandkids. She was a skilled bridge player, gardener, and a smart-ass to those who knew her best. She also was a champion at charades – whether you were an old friend or a young grandkid, you wanted her on your team. She dedicated her life to those she loved, lifting everyone up to be their best, comforting or encouraging and imparting wisdom and humor.

A Memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 1, 2017 at Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre, 9301 Michigan Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46268. The Inurnment will follow at 2:45 p.m. at Covington Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 8408 Covington Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46804.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Shriners Hospitals for Children in Mary’s name, 2900 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607.