Mary Irene Hope Sorensen, age 84, wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many, died January 16, 2012 in Ness City, Kansas. Mary was born February 18, 1927 in Hutchinson, Kansas, to Dr. L.O. and Helen Jackson Hope.

After graduating from Hutchinson High School and Hutchinson Junior College, she received a degree in home economics from Kansas State College (now University) in 1948.

On January 22, 1950, she married William B. Sorensen, and in 1951, they moved to Ness City, Kansas.
Mary was a member of the United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir, taught Sunday school, and served on many committees. She was an elementary teacher at the Ness City Grade School for seventeen years. She loved music, was an accomplished violin player and taught violin lessons. She was active in her community where she served on the library board and was a past president, was a member of the Ness City Hospital Auxiliary, served as a cub scout den mother, a girl scout leader, and belonged to P.E.O., Gradatium, and Eastern Star. She served terms as president for both P.E.O and Gradatium. Mary enjoyed traveling and traveled to all fifty states as well as Europe, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, and her first child, a boy, who was stillborn. She is survived by her husband, Bill, her children, William Sorensen, Jr. (Lou Anne), Susan Mallon (Mike), Diane Worth (Paul), granddaughters Melissa Mallon, Megan Mallon, Hayley Worth, and Kate Sorensen, and grandson Brett Mallon.

Funeral services will be Thursday, January 19, 2012, 2:00 P.M. at the United Methodist Church, Ness City with burial in the Ness City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ness City United Methodist Church, the Ness City Library or Hospice of the Prairie.