Kay Spitzner-Retired Teacher Hall of Fame
Mary Kathryn McMilan was born in Carbondale, Illinois on October 15, 1920 to John and Ruth McMillan. She eloped with Leo Spitzner in June of 1941, whom she met at a square dance. Mary Kathryn McMillan Spitzner (known as Kay) received her Bachelor of Education with a triple major in Home Ec, Chemistry, and Math in 1941. She received her Masters in Science in Education in 1970 at SIU.
Mrs. Spitzner stayed at home and raised her six children until 1959 when Floyd C. Smith begged her to teach PE for one semester in January. She knew nothing about P.E., but Mr. Smith was desperate. She later was hired to teach math the following August, 1959 which included her oldest son, Everett in her Senior Math class. Over the next 15 years she taught her other five children, John, Lee, Scott, Jeanne, and lance. She was pretty strict and even had her own children call her Mrs. Spitzner. She taught Algebra I and II, Senior Math which included Calculus and Trigonometry for 22 years until 1982. She also sponsored Math Club all those years with an annual Bunco party at Christmas.
In the classroom she had a saying, “The bugaboo of Algebra II is the middle term, now get behind the door and learn it.” She also had a piggy bank for students who were caught chewing gum. She charged a nickel which went toward the math Christmas party. You never borrowed a Kleenex from Mrs. Spitzner because she said she didn’t want it back.
Mrs. Spitzner usually took tickets during ballgames while knitting which was one of her favorite pastimes. She also enjoyed cooking, sewing, reading, bowling, playing bridge, pinnacle, Bingo, and camping. She never met a stranger and loved to entertain and to be around people.
After retiring, she and Leo went to Florida for the winter for 20 years. They traveled through 49 states except Alaska. She raised 6 children and had 6 grandchildren and 3 great grand-children. She died in February of 2004 before five great-grandchildren were born.
Kay is extremely deserving of this recognition and her dedication and contribution to the lives of her students and the field of education is greatly appreciated!!
**************
She married Leo Hale Spitzner on June 3, 1941 in Cape Girardeau, MO. He passed away November 25, 2008.
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Southern Illinoisan (Carbondale, IL) - Sunday, February 8, 2004
CARBONDALE -- Mary Kay Spitzner, 83, of Flora, formerly of Carbondale, died at 10:05 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, 2004, in Flora Pavilion.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Frank and Bright Funeral Home, with Pastor Bill Renner officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday in the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church.
Mary Kay was born Oct. 15, 1920, in Carbondale, to John and Ruth H. (Barnes) McMillan. She married Leo Spitzner on June 3, 1941, in Cape Girardeau.
She retired after 22 years as math instructor at the Flora High School.
She was a member of Illinois Education Association and the Triangle Sunday school class of First United Methodist Church.
Survivors include five sons and a daughter-in-law, Everett and Stefany Spitzner of Lombard, John Spitzner of Key West, Fla., Lee Spitzner of Reno, Nev., Scott Spitzner and Lance Spitzner, both of Denver, Colo.; a daughter and son-in-law, Jeanne and Ed Hayes of Xenia; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother and one sister, Helen Huffman of Carbondale.
Mary Kathryn McMilan was born in Carbondale, Illinois on October 15, 1920 to John and Ruth McMillan. She eloped with Leo Spitzner in June of 1941, whom she met at a square dance. Mary Kathryn McMillan Spitzner (known as Kay) received her Bachelor of Education with a triple major in Home Ec, Chemistry, and Math in 1941. She received her Masters in Science in Education in 1970 at SIU.
Mrs. Spitzner stayed at home and raised her six children until 1959 when Floyd C. Smith begged her to teach PE for one semester in January. She knew nothing about P.E., but Mr. Smith was desperate. She later was hired to teach math the following August, 1959 which included her oldest son, Everett in her Senior Math class. Over the next 15 years she taught her other five children, John, Lee, Scott, Jeanne, and lance. She was pretty strict and even had her own children call her Mrs. Spitzner. She taught Algebra I and II, Senior Math which included Calculus and Trigonometry for 22 years until 1982. She also sponsored Math Club all those years with an annual Bunco party at Christmas.
In the classroom she had a saying, “The bugaboo of Algebra II is the middle term, now get behind the door and learn it.” She also had a piggy bank for students who were caught chewing gum. She charged a nickel which went toward the math Christmas party. You never borrowed a Kleenex from Mrs. Spitzner because she said she didn’t want it back.
Mrs. Spitzner usually took tickets during ballgames while knitting which was one of her favorite pastimes. She also enjoyed cooking, sewing, reading, bowling, playing bridge, pinnacle, Bingo, and camping. She never met a stranger and loved to entertain and to be around people.
After retiring, she and Leo went to Florida for the winter for 20 years. They traveled through 49 states except Alaska. She raised 6 children and had 6 grandchildren and 3 great grand-children. She died in February of 2004 before five great-grandchildren were born.
Kay is extremely deserving of this recognition and her dedication and contribution to the lives of her students and the field of education is greatly appreciated!!
**************
She married Leo Hale Spitzner on June 3, 1941 in Cape Girardeau, MO. He passed away November 25, 2008.
* * * * *
Southern Illinoisan (Carbondale, IL) - Sunday, February 8, 2004
CARBONDALE -- Mary Kay Spitzner, 83, of Flora, formerly of Carbondale, died at 10:05 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, 2004, in Flora Pavilion.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Frank and Bright Funeral Home, with Pastor Bill Renner officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday in the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church.
Mary Kay was born Oct. 15, 1920, in Carbondale, to John and Ruth H. (Barnes) McMillan. She married Leo Spitzner on June 3, 1941, in Cape Girardeau.
She retired after 22 years as math instructor at the Flora High School.
She was a member of Illinois Education Association and the Triangle Sunday school class of First United Methodist Church.
Survivors include five sons and a daughter-in-law, Everett and Stefany Spitzner of Lombard, John Spitzner of Key West, Fla., Lee Spitzner of Reno, Nev., Scott Spitzner and Lance Spitzner, both of Denver, Colo.; a daughter and son-in-law, Jeanne and Ed Hayes of Xenia; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother and one sister, Helen Huffman of Carbondale.
Kay Spitzner-Retired Teacher Hall of Fame
Mary Kathryn McMilan was born in Carbondale, Illinois on October 15, 1920 to John and Ruth McMillan. She eloped with Leo Spitzner in June of 1941, whom she met at a square dance. Mary Kathryn McMillan Spitzner (known as Kay) received her Bachelor of Education with a triple major in Home Ec, Chemistry, and Math in 1941. She received her Masters in Science in Education in 1970 at SIU.
Mrs. Spitzner stayed at home and raised her six children until 1959 when Floyd C. Smith begged her to teach PE for one semester in January. She knew nothing about P.E., but Mr. Smith was desperate. She later was hired to teach math the following August, 1959 which included her oldest son, Everett in her Senior Math class. Over the next 15 years she taught her other five children, John, Lee, Scott, Jeanne, and lance. She was pretty strict and even had her own children call her Mrs. Spitzner. She taught Algebra I and II, Senior Math which included Calculus and Trigonometry for 22 years until 1982. She also sponsored Math Club all those years with an annual Bunco party at Christmas.
In the classroom she had a saying, “The bugaboo of Algebra II is the middle term, now get behind the door and learn it.” She also had a piggy bank for students who were caught chewing gum. She charged a nickel which went toward the math Christmas party. You never borrowed a Kleenex from Mrs. Spitzner because she said she didn’t want it back.
Mrs. Spitzner usually took tickets during ballgames while knitting which was one of her favorite pastimes. She also enjoyed cooking, sewing, reading, bowling, playing bridge, pinnacle, Bingo, and camping. She never met a stranger and loved to entertain and to be around people.
After retiring, she and Leo went to Florida for the winter for 20 years. They traveled through 49 states except Alaska. She raised 6 children and had 6 grandchildren and 3 great grand-children. She died in February of 2004 before five great-grandchildren were born.
Kay is extremely deserving of this recognition and her dedication and contribution to the lives of her students and the field of education is greatly appreciated!!
**************
She married Leo Hale Spitzner on June 3, 1941 in Cape Girardeau, MO. He passed away November 25, 2008.
* * * * *
Southern Illinoisan (Carbondale, IL) - Sunday, February 8, 2004
CARBONDALE -- Mary Kay Spitzner, 83, of Flora, formerly of Carbondale, died at 10:05 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, 2004, in Flora Pavilion.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Frank and Bright Funeral Home, with Pastor Bill Renner officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday in the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church.
Mary Kay was born Oct. 15, 1920, in Carbondale, to John and Ruth H. (Barnes) McMillan. She married Leo Spitzner on June 3, 1941, in Cape Girardeau.
She retired after 22 years as math instructor at the Flora High School.
She was a member of Illinois Education Association and the Triangle Sunday school class of First United Methodist Church.
Survivors include five sons and a daughter-in-law, Everett and Stefany Spitzner of Lombard, John Spitzner of Key West, Fla., Lee Spitzner of Reno, Nev., Scott Spitzner and Lance Spitzner, both of Denver, Colo.; a daughter and son-in-law, Jeanne and Ed Hayes of Xenia; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother and one sister, Helen Huffman of Carbondale.
Mary Kathryn McMilan was born in Carbondale, Illinois on October 15, 1920 to John and Ruth McMillan. She eloped with Leo Spitzner in June of 1941, whom she met at a square dance. Mary Kathryn McMillan Spitzner (known as Kay) received her Bachelor of Education with a triple major in Home Ec, Chemistry, and Math in 1941. She received her Masters in Science in Education in 1970 at SIU.
Mrs. Spitzner stayed at home and raised her six children until 1959 when Floyd C. Smith begged her to teach PE for one semester in January. She knew nothing about P.E., but Mr. Smith was desperate. She later was hired to teach math the following August, 1959 which included her oldest son, Everett in her Senior Math class. Over the next 15 years she taught her other five children, John, Lee, Scott, Jeanne, and lance. She was pretty strict and even had her own children call her Mrs. Spitzner. She taught Algebra I and II, Senior Math which included Calculus and Trigonometry for 22 years until 1982. She also sponsored Math Club all those years with an annual Bunco party at Christmas.
In the classroom she had a saying, “The bugaboo of Algebra II is the middle term, now get behind the door and learn it.” She also had a piggy bank for students who were caught chewing gum. She charged a nickel which went toward the math Christmas party. You never borrowed a Kleenex from Mrs. Spitzner because she said she didn’t want it back.
Mrs. Spitzner usually took tickets during ballgames while knitting which was one of her favorite pastimes. She also enjoyed cooking, sewing, reading, bowling, playing bridge, pinnacle, Bingo, and camping. She never met a stranger and loved to entertain and to be around people.
After retiring, she and Leo went to Florida for the winter for 20 years. They traveled through 49 states except Alaska. She raised 6 children and had 6 grandchildren and 3 great grand-children. She died in February of 2004 before five great-grandchildren were born.
Kay is extremely deserving of this recognition and her dedication and contribution to the lives of her students and the field of education is greatly appreciated!!
**************
She married Leo Hale Spitzner on June 3, 1941 in Cape Girardeau, MO. He passed away November 25, 2008.
* * * * *
Southern Illinoisan (Carbondale, IL) - Sunday, February 8, 2004
CARBONDALE -- Mary Kay Spitzner, 83, of Flora, formerly of Carbondale, died at 10:05 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, 2004, in Flora Pavilion.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Frank and Bright Funeral Home, with Pastor Bill Renner officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday in the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church.
Mary Kay was born Oct. 15, 1920, in Carbondale, to John and Ruth H. (Barnes) McMillan. She married Leo Spitzner on June 3, 1941, in Cape Girardeau.
She retired after 22 years as math instructor at the Flora High School.
She was a member of Illinois Education Association and the Triangle Sunday school class of First United Methodist Church.
Survivors include five sons and a daughter-in-law, Everett and Stefany Spitzner of Lombard, John Spitzner of Key West, Fla., Lee Spitzner of Reno, Nev., Scott Spitzner and Lance Spitzner, both of Denver, Colo.; a daughter and son-in-law, Jeanne and Ed Hayes of Xenia; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother and one sister, Helen Huffman of Carbondale.
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