Mary Ann Briggans

Mary Ann Briggans age 71, of Coffeyville, Kansas, passed away peacefully with family near her side in her home on Friday, August 8, 2025.

Mary was born on September 2, 1953 in Coffeyville, Kansas to John Henry and Velda Mae (Isle) Evans. Mary grew up in rural Coffeyville attending school in Altamont, Kansas, graduating from Altamont High School.

As a young woman Mary worked at Cooper's Flower shop as a floral designer. One day while at work a young man by the name of Lawrence E. Briggans Jr. paid no attention to the flowers being arranged in the window, he noticed a young woman and the most beautiful pair of legs he had ever seen, instead of saying nice flower he let her know she had nice legs. That day of window shopping led to the next arrangement if you will, of a long conversation at the local teen hang out Le Tienda. It was on October 2, 1974 that after a heartfelt proposal Mary took Lawrence as her husband and the two have shared over 50 years together.

Being a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother was Mary's first priority and love in life. She made every day special for her family, and they have great memories of her making sure their birthdays were celebrated and special. She was an accomplished seamstress, making most of her family’s clothes, always their Halloween costumes and beautiful quilts for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. When their children started having grandchildren Mary and Lawrence welcomed those babies with open arms, Mary transitioned into retirement well caring for her grandchildren. She also enjoyed flowers and when her health no longer allowed her to tend to her flowers, her loving husband took up flower gardening so his beautiful wife could enjoy the flowers. If you gathered her family around a table asking what is your favorite thing about Mary, one common answer would be they knew they were loved, she told them often and they will hold her words of "I love you more than dirt" close to their hearts.

During the early years of their marriage Mary worked beside Lawrence as the money collector with his DJ business traveling to nearby towns providing music at Disco events, until his full-time employment with the railroad. Mary was a homemaker until the youngest of the four children went to school and she began her 20 plus year career with Tri-County Tech as a Paraprofessional working in Coffeyville Schools loving and nurturing children. Mary volunteered at Coffeyville Friends of Animals, and her grandchildren often accompanied her, she would have brought every animal home with her if she could have. Her love for animals could have led her to a career of being an amazing veterinarian if she had chosen to. Mary excelled in everything she did.

All because two people fell deeply in love, and have shared almost 51 years of marriage, Mary Briggans is able to leave a legacy of her love behind through her husband Lawrence E. Briggans Jr., and their children, grandchildren great grandchildren, Lawrence "Ernie" Briggans III (Collene Young) and their children Gabe, Ashley (Tony) Ben, Lawrence IIII, Andrew, Amy, Devon and Zoe, Jessica Morris, and her children Bella Ann, Triana (Rex), Trinity (Elijah) and Alexzander, Tyler Briggans, and his children Kennedy (Dalton), Peyton, and Troy Briggans, and five great grandchildren Zen, Iris, Shia, Olivia and Auria. She also leaves behind one brother Don Evans (Cora Lee) and one sister-in-law Phyllis Evans. She was preceded in death by her parents John and Velda Mae Evans, one brother David Evans and son-in-law Charles Morris.

A celebration of Mary's life will be held on Friday, August 15, 2025 at 10:30 am at Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel, 2405 Woodland Ave., in Coffeyville followed by a committal service at Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Thursday, August 14, 2025 also at the chapel from 5 to 7pm. The family has requested memorial contributions to be made payable to Coffeyville Friends of Animals in honor of her love of animals. To leave a online condolence, share a memory or view life streaming of the service visit Mary's obituary page at www.fordwulfbrunschapel.com