Mary RaberMary Ella (Winkler) Raber, a long-time resident of Springfield, MO, died October 27, 2016, in Miramar Beach, FL, where she resided with her daughter during the final phase of her battle with cancer.Mary was born on December 26, 1930, to Arthur and Laura (Whitcomb) Winkler, in Akron, OH. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, and one sister. In addition to one sister, she is survived by her daughters, Suzanne Dimmit (Jeff), of Joplin, MO, and Dianne Tipton (Gary), of Miramar Beach, FL; five grandchildren, Chad (Crystal) and Todd Tipton, and Will (Kate), David and Laura Dimmit; and six great-grandchildren, Baylee, Braeden, Bella, Bishop, Charley and Macklyn.After earning her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Missouri State University, Mary spent 19 years as a special education teacher for Springfield Public Schools. Throughout her career she earned the love and respect of countless people. Mary's love of children and passion for teaching led her to create a tutoring business which she maintained until 2016. Over the years, she touched the lives of hundreds of children with her special blend of individualized instruction and unconditional love.Mary enjoyed playing the piano. She could play almost any tune by ear and loved sharing her musical gifts. She had an exceptional ability to find joy everywhere she looked, be it in a single rose, a setting sun, snow-capped mountains, the smile of a child, cardinals (whether in the air or at the ballpark), or, especially, a bright, beautiful moon. Mary knew how to stop and appreciate life's moments large and small.Family meant everything to Mary. She was always happiest when surrounded by loved ones and maintaining these relationships was her top priority. She was the epitome of a hands-on grandmother. A visit with Grandma Mary was always a treasured time.A small, private celebration of Mary's life will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Mary's name to Emerald Coast Hospice, 200 Grand Blvd., Suite 205-A, Miramar Beach, FL 32550.