Mary Earline Ceney, 89, of Hillsboro, died on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at her residence.
A service will be held at Hough-Dean Funeral Home in Hillsboro on Saturday, April 25, at 2 p.m. A second service will be held when Mrs. Ceney and her husband Frank’s ashes are scattered in the Oregon mountains that they loved.
Mrs. Ceney was born on a farm near Bellmont on April 27, 1936, the oldest daughter of William ‘Earl’ and Eunice Elda (Risley) James.
She married Frank A. Ceney Jr., also of Bellmont, in 1953 and attended Southern Illinois University-Carbondale while he completed his degree. The couple moved to Hillsboro in 1956 when Mr. Ceney began teaching at Hillsboro High School.
Later, Mrs. Ceney returned to college at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, completing both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Mrs. Ceney then worked as a school librarian in Girard and then as the district elementary librarian for the Hillsboro School District.
Mrs. Ceney loved camping, reading, playing bridge and cross-stitching with her many friends. She was an active Girl Scout leader and, with her husband, spent many summers as campground hosts in Oregon and Idaho. She was present in the lives of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and will be missed by all.
Mrs. Ceney is survived by her sons, Thomas (Irmgard) of St. Louis, David (Nona) of Pocahontas and James (Amy) of Colorado Springs, CO; daughter, Pamela (Scott) Beyer of Bend, OR; brothers, Jean (Jenny) James of Gillespie and Frank (Delores) James of Bellmont; seven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Frank; sister, Lois Lucille Cooper; granddaughter, Beth Rull; and niece, Nancy James Smith.
The family suggests that memorials be made to the Hillsboro Educational Foundation.
