Mary Elise (Daugherty) Thomas, born on May 22, 1936 passed peacefully from this life to the next on September 26, 2025. Mary Elise was the first born child of Rev. Dr. Clarence Lloyd and Getrude Daugherty in Pittsburgh, PA. The older sister of Gertrude (Stan) Overmeyer, Margaret (Don) Turner and Lloyd Daugherty, she learned to be an attentive caretaker and leader at a very young age.  Margaret was only 3 when their brother was born, so Mary Elise took over the bedtime rituals, including the reading of stories, for her younger sister. Her love for children began at a young age. So did her passion for education, as she helped her younger sister and brother with homework.  She graduated from Hillsboro High School, Nashville, TN in 1954.  She began her college career at DePauw University where she met Don and they fell in love, and they married on December 28,1955 moving to Atlanta, GA where she finished her Bachelor's Degree while Don attended Chandler Divinity School.

Upon graduation, the young couple moved from Atlanta to Northern Illinois, where Don began his career in pastoral ministry, as Mary Elise began teaching and raised their three children, Katherine (Randy) in Rochelle, Megan (Michele) in Rockford, and Lloyd (Debbie) in Oak Lawn.  Mary Elise began teaching school in Mount Prospect and taught elementary school in several locations, became the director of a KinderCare Childcare center in Rockford. She was active volunteering in ministry with their churches, and teaching DISCIPLE Bible Study led her to a call to ministry herself. She served as a Licensed Local Pastor at Red Oak United Methodist Church near Rockford and then was the pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church in Carpentersville.  In retirement, she and Don served several churches as a pastoral team. Mary Elise was the proud grandmother to Meg Paisley, Carol (Adrian) Hill, Donny Paisley, and Stephanie (Kevin) Ryan; and great-grandmother to Paisley Wade, Elijah Johnson, and Katie, Rae and Deuce Hill.  "Playing in the kitchen with Mom/Nana/Grandnana" was a part of the blessing she has shared with every generation of her family.

Mary Elise is preceded in death by her parents, her parents-in-law, her brother Lloyd and sister Trudy, her daughter Karen, her great-granddaughter Halle Grace, and many loved ones over the years.  Mary Elise had a heart of compassionate service, exuding thoughtfulness, faith and love to everyone she met.  The world was a brighter and kinder place because of the life and love of Mary Elise.

A celebration of life will be held on November 8 with Visitation at 10:00 am, followed by the service at 11:00 am at Court Street United Methodist Church in Rockford, Illinois. A luncheon will be served following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to UNICEF for the children of Gaza, a concern that was close to her heart. Children in Conflict: Urgent Help Needed | UNICEF USA