Mara Dene Herrington

Mara Dene Herrington passed away on March 30, 2016 after a 10 year battle with breast cancer. The wake will be held at 5:00 p.m. on April 7, 2016 at Visitation Church, 5141 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri. Mass of Christian burial at 10:00 a.m. on April 8, 2016 at Visitation. Internment at Calvary Cemetery. Reception to follow at the family home, 226 W. 53rd Street. If you are not sure you were close enough to Mara or her family to come, but you are thinking about it, then come. Mara was born on April 1, 1964 to Jayde and Billie Sprecker. She grew up in Whitewater, Kansas, playing a lot of basketball in the driveway with her three brothers, Trent (Debbie), Devin (Kim) and Ryan (Michelle). She was a determined person, getting the most out of life with grit and sheer willpower. She wasn't afraid to trade paint or elbows. She attended Remington High School. She was a four year starter in basketball and volleyball, all league for one year in volleyball and four years in basketball. She was all-state in basketball her senior year. She still holds the Kansas high school record for rebounds in a season with 308. That means she chased down a lot of her own misses. She led Remington to its first ever appearance in the Kansas State Tournament. She went to K-State for undergrad and KU for law school, conveniently following the Wildcats in football and the Jayhawks in basketball. She received an LLM in taxation from San Diego State. Mara practiced law from 1989 through the present. She was in-house counsel at Waddell & Reed from 2006 through the end. She had an agile mind. Mara was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in 2006. It was a difficult journey that took its toll on her body. She took several standing 8 counts in that 10 year battle, but repeatedly got off the canvas, bloodied, but unbowed. She persevered so that she could be with her children. In the words of Vince Lombardi: She didn't lose the game, she just ran out of time. She had an unconquerable soul. There wasn't much of Mara left at the end, but what there was, she gave. She gave her corneas to Midwest Organ Transplant so that others might see. Mara was preceded in death by her niece, Talia Sprecker and her nephews, Cory Sprecker and Cameron Herrington. She leaves behind her mom, dad and brothers and her daughters Maggie (20), Kathleen (18) and Clare (15), her son Joe (14), her husband Dan and her beloved lab, Murphy. Mara married Dan in 1994. Her children, which soon followed, were her life. A perfect day for Mara was a full Saturday slate of basketball and soccer games. The family extends special thanks to the staff at KU Cancer Treatment Center and St. Luke's Cancer Institute for their care and to Waddell & Reed for its support. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to Mara Herrington STA Scholarship Fund, 5600 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64113. We will see you on the other side.


SERVICES Visitation
Thursday, April 7, 2016 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Visitation Church 5141 Main Street Kansas City, Missouri 64113
Mass of Christian Burial
Friday, April 8, 2016 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Visitation Church 5141 Main Street Kansas City, Missouri 64113