Mary Ella Alfring, born in Chanute, Kansas on January 27, 1916 died at her home, Mar Cielo, April 12, 2015. Mary Ella was the second daughter of Mamie Chandler and Milo T. Jones. As she liked to say, she was born into a "prominent pioneer family" whose grandfather, M.T. Jones founded Chanute with his brother, T.C. Jones when they realized the MK & T Railroad would locate there in approximately 1870. Mary Ella was valedictorian of her class at Chanute High School and graduated from Smith College in 1937. After college she worked at Hanover Trust Company, located in New York City, as an analyst. While visiting her sister and brother-in-law, Jane and Karl Vollmer, in St. Louis, MO Mary Ella met James Gilchrist Alfring whom she married in 1941. They had three children, Dessa Morrow (Gary), Virginia "Ginny" Kalbach (Joe) and James G. "Gil" Alfring (Tama). Their five grandchildren are William A. Gray (Kelly), James A. "Buster" Black (Caroline), Joseph E. "Ted" Kalbach, Laura E. Alfring (Brian Coughlin) and James M. Alfring (Jamie) ; two great grandchildren James and Alice Black are recent family additions. In St. Louis, Estes Park, CO and Delray Beach, FL. Mary Ella loved horseback riding, golf, gardening and bridge. She served as President of the Friends Board of the Missouri Botanical Garden from 1966-1967. Mary Ella was a member of the Weeders & Seeders Garden Club and a member of several investment clubs and bridge groups. As a Governor of Gulf Stream Golf Club Mary Ella served 2 terms from 2001-2006. In addition to her family and friends Mary Ella was devoted to her personal assistant of 20 years Lonnie Hurley, her recent caretakers Sheila, Carol and Dorothy plus her 17 year old poodle, Louie. Mary Ella was the matriarch of her family that also included three nieces, Patricia Vollmer Hotchkiss, Mary Vollmer Rassieur and Jane Vollmer St. John.

A Memorial service will be held on Friday, April 17, 2015, 3:00PM at the First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach, 33 Gleason Street, Delray Beach, FL.

St. Louis: Friends may call on Friday, April 24, 2015 from 5:00PM to 7:00PM at the Lupton Funeral Home, 7233 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, Missouri. A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2015, 1:00PM at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Missouri Botanical Garden 4344 Shaw Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63110, to Gulf Stream Golf Club Employee Children's Education Fund, 2401 North Ocean Blvd., Gulf Stream, Florida 33483 or a charity of your choice.