Mary Lucena (Long) Derks, 94, of Carthage, passed away at 10:25 PM Friday evening, May 21,
2021, at the Silver Maple Care Center in Carthage.
Mary was born the only child of Reuben Ray and Vera Claudine (Simmons) Long in Hancock
Township, Hancock County, Illinois. After graduating from the three-year High School in
Burnside she was a Senior graduate of Carthage High School in 1944. She was united in
marriage to Lawrence Lee Derks, Sr. on April 28 th , 1944, in Hamilton, Illinois by the Reverend
H.C. Reichel. She and Lawrence moved to the Derks family farm in 1946 after Lawrence was
Honorably Discharged from the U.S. Army Air Corps.
Mary Lu is survived by her husband; two daughters, Dixie Ann (Robert) Williamson of Chatham,
Donna Lou (Jack) Myers of Arlington Heights; two sons, Lawrence Lee (Park) Derks, Jr. of Burke,
VA and William Ray (Candy) Derks of Rochester; grandchildren, Ben Williamson, Mary Ann
(Todd) Henry, Ira (Erin) Hanks, Andy (Brandy) Derks, Lucas (Sarah) Williamson, Kim Derks,
Miakea (George) Toubekis, Lawrence Derks III; step-grandchildren, Patrick Myers and Kristin
(Eric) Riger; great grandchildren, Josh & Katie Henry, Mackenzie Derks, Gabby Amos, Theoni
and Thrasso Toubekis, Cody Williamson and Madison and Drew Derks and two step-great
grandchildren, Ayla and Eliana Riger.  
She was preceded in death by her parents and close aunts, uncles and cousins.
Mary Lu was part owner and employed by Derks’ Superette in Ferris for several years, worked
in Central Supply at Memorial Hospital in Carthage for four years, and most recently at Farmers
State Bank of Ferris for sixteen years retiring in 1996. She helped Lawrence on the farm as
much as possible while raising their children. She especially liked to disc but admitted to not
being good at raking hay and never learned to milk the cows. First and foremost, she was a
farm wife, mother and homemaker. She was a member of Burnside Christian Church, Carthage
American Legion Auxiliary and Republican Women’s Group of Hancock County. She loved the
Lord as well as her family and looks forward to a family reunion in heaven.
Private family inurment will be held with a memorial service at a later date.