Mary Lou Richardson (nee: Jones), age 90, of Munson Twp., OH, died on Wed., November 11 at home surrounded by her family. She was born to Percy Louis and Gladys Nadine (nee: Heichel) Jones on Dec. 20, 1929, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. On June 6, 1953, she married the love of her life, Howard Spencer Richardson, in Chardon, OH.

Mary Lou and her husband ran the former Junction Restaurant (at Rt. 44 and Rt. 322). She later continued her waitressing career at the Plaza Restaurant in Chardon and then the Viking Restaurant in Munson Twp. She enjoyed cooking and was an excellent cook and gracious host. Mary Lou also loved fishing and camping; she did both in Canada every summer for over 50 years.

Mary Lou was a people person. She loved people and never met a stranger. She had a knack for finding the good in everyone, and gave sincere compliments to everyone she encountered. Her smile and warmth made everyone feel special, whether they had known her for minutes or decades. Her affection and sense of humor created a home filled with love and laughter. Not surprisingly, she was loved by many- especially her nieces and nephews, as well as the friends of her children and grandchildren.

Mary Lou was a model of quiet perseverance. She endured devastating heartbreak, first with the death of her only son, Howard Alan Richardson, to cancer in 1994, followed by the loss of her beloved husband just four years later. Yet she faced each day with a smile and was a source of love and strength for her family during those difficult years.

Her family was the center of her life. Nothing brought Mary Lou greater happiness than taking care of her family. She was proud of every accomplishment, big or small. Mary Lou was her grandchildren’s biggest cheerleader and her daughters’ biggest confidant. In the past decade she also found great joy in her 6 great-grandchildren. Her family will always remember and be thankful for her love and selfless devotion to them.

She is survived by her daughters, Linda (Lad) Gaal of Chardon and Dawn (Bill) Alvord of Munson Twp.; daughter-in-law Jean (Mike) Uthe of Chardon; her grandchildren, Lanese (Jason) Nobbe of Mentor, Sarah (Jacob) Park of Chardon, Daniel (Sara) Alvord of Munson Twp., Rebecca (Taylor) Emmons of Fairport Harbor, Julie (Lee) Thomas of Hambden Twp., and Michael Richardson of Chicago; 6 great-grandchildren; and her sister Kay (Jim) Sojka of Chardon.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her husband on Feb. 11, 1998; her son, Howard Alan Richardson on Apr. 29, 1994; her loving parents; and three sisters.

Private Family Services have been held.

Donations may be made in her name to the Geauga Park District, 9160 Robinson Rd, Chardon, OH 44024 or the UH Seidman Cancer Center, 11100 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106.

Arrangements by the Burr Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Chardon, OH. Information and condolences on-line at www.burrservice.com.