Mary Alice Tuxhorn, 85, of Springfield, passed away on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at her home surrounded by her family. She was born on February 8, 1940, in Winchester, Scott County, Illinois to James Edward and Regina O'Donnell Cowhick. She married Benjamin William Tuxhorn, son of Elmer and Mary Smith Tuxhorn, in Senatobia, Tate County, MS, on November 2, 1957.

Mary Alice attended Grade Schools in Winchester, Jacksonville and Springfield, IL. She went to Sacred Heart Academy in Springfield, IL, and also attended Lincoln Land Community College and Sangamon State University for enrichment courses and also Marguerite Scott's School of Beauty Culture. She was the Owner/Operator of Mary's Beauty Box in Berry and Rochester, IL, and The Plush Brush in Kincaid, IL. Following her hairstyling business, she was a Real Estate Sales Associate for Craggs/Curvey in Taylorville, IL for a few years and then she opened her own greenhouse, Plants 'R Poppin, at her home on their farm in rural Edinburg where she was also a lifetime partner of the farm with her husband Ben. In 1989, Mary went to work for the Illinois Dept. of Revenue as a Tax Specialist and retired from there in 2000. During her lifetime, she had also been on the board of various civic and charitable organizations and been a school volunteer.

At the time of her death, Mary Alice belonged to Daughters of the American Revolution where she had been a past Chaplain, Lineage Researcher and Genealogy Helper, and served on several committees. She also belonged to the Rochester Historical Preservation Society and had been a Docent at the Old Stone House. She was a member of the Decatur Genealogical Society and the Christian County Historical Society. She had also been a past member of the Eagles Auxiliary in Springfield.

Genealogy and Family History was the passion of Mary's life. She self-published her Cowhick and O'Donnell Family History and donated them to several libraries. Mary Alice's greatest love was for her family, whom she always said was the biggest accomplishment in her life. Those who are left to mourn her death are husband, Ben Tuxhorn of Springfield; Children, Ben L. Tuxhorn of Edinburg, Cindy Blair of Edinburg, Ed Tuxhorn of Rochester and Rebecca Tuxhorn (Eddie Legg) of Taylorville; grandchildren, Mandy Getz, Leslie J. (Marc) Keppler, Ryan Blair (Dakota Davidson), William (Jennifer) Davis, Marley Garrett (Dalton Treece), and Maggie and Ben "Wrigs" Tuxhorn; great grandchildren, Karson Getz (Jordyn Alcala) and Keagan Getz, Ben and Camden Keppler, Audriana and Austyn Davis, and BryLynn Blair; sisters, Emily (Dick) Frische of Phoenix, AZ., Rose Ponczak of Mesa, AZ., Winnie (Alan) Lipp of Merrillville, IN; brother Joe Cowhick of Chatham, IL; sister-in-law Grace Pope of Rochester, IL, and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Mary Alice was of Catholic Faith. Her visitation will be held at Wilson Park Funeral Home on Thursday, April 3, 2025 from 10:00AM until the time of the Funeral Service at 12:00PM with Reverend Father Peter Chineke presiding. Burial will follow at Rochester Cemetery in Rochester, IL.

Memorials may be made to the Springfield Chapter of DAR, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, or Rochester Historical Preservation Society.

Wilson Park Funeral Home in Rochester is in charge of arrangements.