Mary Frances Sutton Richards of Palmer, 91, died Oct. 25 at the Pioneer Home in Palmer.A service was held Oct. 28, at St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer.

Mrs. Richards was born Jan. 12, 1918, in Pattonsburg, Mo., to John Harvey and Frances (Phillebaum) Sutton. She graduated from Pattonsburg High School in 1934 and attended Northwest Missouri State Teachers College in Maryville where she received her degree. She married Paul Bernard Richards on Dec. 22, 1940.

Mrs. Richards taught high school English in Oregon, Missouri, retiring in 1979 after teaching for 31 years. She and Bernard moved to Palmer in 1986. In retirement, Mrs. Richards enjoyed reading, knitting, quilting, cooking for family and playing cards with her bridge club.

Survivors are her daughter and son-in-law, Dorothy and Ronald Abbott of Palmer; seven grandchildren, Mark and Sharon Abbott of Lago Vista, Texas; William and Jessica Abbott of Mesa, Ariz.; Cheryl and David Williams, Laura and Mark Jordan, Eric and Amy Abbott, Christopher Abbott and David Abbott, all of Palmer; and six great-grandchildren: Kelsey, Cierra, Kaden, and Jenna Abbott, and Kimberly and Alex McDowell.

Mrs. Richards was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard, sister Margaret, and two brothers John and Robert. A memorial service will be held Nov. 17 at the First Presbyterian Church in Oregon, Mo. Inurnment will take place at the Savannah, Mo., cemetery. Memorial donations may be sent to Palmer Public Library, 655 S. Valley Way, Palmer, AK 99645.