Dateline: Alton, IL
Mary Ellen Grisham, 85, died at 1:43 a.m. on Monday, November 3, 2025 at Alton Memorial Hospital. She was born August 2, 1940 in St. Louis, Missouri the daughter of the late Roy and Anna Emma (Hawthorne) Singer. Mary was the head librarian for the Bethalto Public Library and a Professor of English at SIU in Edwardsville. On August 18, 1979 in Bridgeton, MO she married Lowell Dean and he survives. Also surviving are one son, David Grisham of Alton, one sister in law, Michelle Singer, two nephews and one niece. Besides her parents she was preceded in death by one brother, Kenneth Singer. Memorial services will be at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at Community Christian Church in Alton. Memorials may be made to the Community Hope Center in Cottage Hills. Gent Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Additional information and online guestbook may be found at www.gentfuneralhome.com