SUBLETTE - Mary Lou Spanier, 84, died December 30, 2016 at Satanta District Hospital in Satanta. She was born on February 2, 1932 five miles south of Sublette on the family farm the daughter of Otto R. and Gladys H. (Thomas) Wallace.

Mary Lou was a lifetime resident of Sublette. She graduated from Sublette High School in 1950 and went on to attend one year of college at Christian College in Columbia, Missouri. In 1951, Mary Lou returned to Sublette and began a career in banking, joining the staff of the Haskell County State Bank. Her first duties were as teller-bookkeeper, among other things. In 1976, she became a cashier. Mary Lou was promoted to the position of executive vice president in 1983. She officially retired from daily work at the bank in 1994 at which time she was elected to the board of directors of Centera Bank and also director of the holding company. Mary Lou was very proud of her banking career and recently celebrated 60 years in banking with the same bank.

On September 14, 1952, Mary Lou was united in marriage to Charles "Chuck" Spanier. He preceded her in death on January 25, 1996. Mary Lou enjoyed playing golf and bridge. She also served on several boards for various organizations in Sublette and Haskell County including the Sublette Hospital District, Pride of Life, and the Sublette Alumni Association. Mary Lou also served eight years on the Sublette City Council.

She was a member of the Sublette Christian Church and the Cimarron Valley Ladies Golf Association.

Mary Lou is survived by a brother, Jack D. Wallace and wife Carolyn of Raytown, Missouri; sister-in-law, Betty Wallace of Sublette; three nephews, Lynn Chaffin of Kinsley, Vic Chaffin of Sublette, and Jeff Wallace of Moore, Oklahoma; and six nieces, Gwendolyn Garcia of Lyons, Ruby Aho of Houston, Texas, Kelly Snelling of Independence, Missouri, Lynn James of Belton, Missouri, Sara Wallace of Raytown, Missouri, and Jennifer Burch of Chickasha, Oklahoma. She is preceded in death by her husband, Charles; her parents; a brother, Philip Wallace; and a sister Betty Chaffin.

Funeral service will be held at the Sublette Christian Church on Thursday, January 5, 2017 at 10:30 AM with Pastor Ryan Riley presiding. Burial will follow at Banner Cemetery, Sublette. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel in Sublette on Wednesday, January 4, 2017 from noon to 8:00 PM. Memorials are suggested to the Sublette Christian Church in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.