Mary F. McCullah

Mary Frances (Billbe) McCullah, 96, passed away on Sunday, August 2, 2026, with family by her side. She was born on October 19, 1929, on a farm near Maryville, Missouri, the daughter of John W. and Geneva F. (Yeager) Billbe.

Mary lived near Pickering, Missouri and attended Happy Hollow School in her early childhood years. The family moved back to the same house where she was born in Maryville and attended Quitman Grade School during eighth grade. She graduated from Quitman High School in May 1947, which was later consolidated into Maryville School District.

Mary married Glenn Dale McCullah on November 21, 1948, at First Christian Church Parsonage in Maryville, Missouri after dating for nine weeks and two days. They lived in Lawrence, Kansas, Topeka, Kansas, Eastland, Texas and eventually settled in Carbondale, Kansas in 1956 where she has lived since. They were married for only 45 years due to Glenn’s death. They had two sons, John Leonard and Don Lee.

Survivors include Gene Anderson (companion of 15 years), son, Don (Sara) McCullah of Carbondale, Nathan McCullah (grandson) of Salina, Aaron Barnes (step-grandson) of Osage City, and many nieces and nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, husband in 1993, siblings, and son John in 1984.

Mary was a stay-at-home mom. In 1978, she attended Kaw Valley Technical School for secretarial office education, and in April 1979 went to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company as keypunch operator. She retired on August 1, 1992. She was a member of the CWA (Communication Workers of America District 6), Telephone Company Pioneers and Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW (Carbondale).

Family visitation will be held on Friday, August 7, 2026, from 6:00 pm to 8:00pm at Grace Community Church, 310 E. 8th Street, Overbrook, Kansas 66524. Graveside services and interment will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at the Carbondale Cemetery. Parker-Price and Davidson is assisting the family.