Mary Alice Harper

Mary Alice Harper, 92, of Sun City, AZ (formerly of Kansas City) passed away Thursday, November 30, 2023, surrounded by her loving family after a brief illness. Mary was born in Kansas City, MO, on April 7, 1931 to parents Alfred Christopher and Eula (Culley) Heidbrier. She was a graduate of Northeast High School in 1948 where she met her husband Dean. Mary and Dean married on July 30, 1950. After several moves throughout the country, Mary and Dean returned to the Kansas City area in 1970 where they would open Harper’s Fabrics and Bath Etc. They retired in 1994, moving to Sun City in 1997 where they celebrated 51 years of marriage before Dean’s passing in 2001. Mary was an active member of the Sun City Christian Church where she served as an elder and the leader of the Disciples Women’s Ministry service group for many years. She was a past president and active member of the DH Chapter of the Sun City PEO. Mary participated in two book clubs right up until her illness. She also volunteered at Boswell Hospital for many years. Mary’s gracious, loving, and positive spirit cast a calming glow over her entire family. She will be deeply missed. Mary was preceded in death by her youngest son, Christopher, in 1993 and her brothers, Briley Heidbrier in 2000, and David Heidbrier in 2009. She is survived by her children, Janice (Dave) Paull, of Naperville, IL, Roger, of Leawood, KS, Joyce (George) Olson, of Sun City West, AZ, Judy (Randy) Norton, of Utica, KS, and Julana (Adam) Harper-Sachs, of Kansas City, MO. She will be lovingly remembered by her 14 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, December 9th at Sun City Christian Church, 9745 W Palmeras Dr, Sun City, AZ 85373. Burial will occur at Rose Hill Cemetery, Breckenridge, Missouri at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to Sun City Christian Church or PEO DH Chapter.