Mary Evelyn Darling, 64, passed from this world on January 7, 2026 surrounded by her family.
Born March 31, 1961 in Kansas City, Kansas to Alfred “Bud” and Jo Anne Sedgwick. Mary dedicated her life to helping those around her. Her children remember her making their home a safe place for all the neighborhood friends they brought home.
Mary went on to get her GED later in life and continued to get her master’s degree in social work where she was able to touch the lives of many in the mental health and oncology fields. She never knew a stranger and helped everyone she met.
She loved her job and her family, including her work family. She dedicated most of her time finding the resources others needed to better their lives. The only thing she loved more than helping others was being a grandmother, especially a GiGi to “Lou”. Nothing made her prouder than to be a grandmother and great-grandmother. She became best friends with all her grandchildren at some point, but her last years were spent with her newest best buddy being her Lou.
Mary is survived by her two daughters, Callie and Kyle Wright, and Malissa and Kurt Sanders, her five grandchildren, Braelyn and Jack Bell, Abbigail “Abbi” Meyers, Koal “Bubbie” and Chelsey Sanders, Samantha Wright, and Avery Wright, and her great-granddaughter, Ameylia and grand-dog, William-Billiam “Willie-Dog”. Mary also leaves behind several siblings, Sharon and Mike Pearson, Debbie McFarland, Donnie Wayne Ivy, David and Donita Sedgwick, Warren “Keith” Sedgwick, Scott Sedgwick, and Neal and Christine Sedgwick.
Visitation and services will be held January 16 at Hixson-Klein Funeral Home in Smithville, Missouri. Visitation will be 1:00-2:00 with services at 2:00. Graveside services will follow at the Masonic Cemetery in Excelsior Springs.
Momma would want us to celebrate and not be sad during this time. Anyone that knew her, knew her love of bright colors, especially orange! Please wear colorful clothing for her. She would want to look down and see us in all the bright colors she loved.
