Mary Kathleen (Moorman) Buroker passed away at the age of 95 on January 11, 2026. Born to Earl and Martha (Elliott) Moorman on March 25, 1930, she was the second oldest of eleven children. Graduating from Swayzee High School, she was crowned the Swayzee Speedking Basketball Queen in 1948. At age 15, Mary met her high school sweetheart and only love, Leland “Peanut” Burdett Buroker. Not having two pennies to rub together, they were married on June 19, 1948. When Leland went to his heavenly home, they had been married for 72 ½ years. They resided in Swayzee, Indiana for 85 years before moving to Westfield, Indiana in 2015 to be closer to their three daughters. Mary lived her last 2½ years at Independence Village of Zionsville, where she was loved by everyone and always brought a smile to others.
Mary was a devoted homemaker and the matriarch of her family. She cared not only for her three daughters, but also her ten siblings, eight grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, and thirty-six nieces and nephews. Mary and Leland farmed for many years where she worked in the fields alongside Peanut. Family was always welcome at their table; Mary would just add more water to the soup. She created a home that welcomed all in times of celebration or strife. Mary and Leland never knew a stranger, and everyone she met was soon “her new best friend.” She was a 4-H mom, teaching her daughters to cook and sew. Mary was a self-taught seamstress, making many of her daughters’ clothes. She loved watching basketball and attended many of her grand and great-grandchildren’s sporting, theatrical, and musical events. Mary and Peanut were faithful members of the Swayzee Christian Church.
Surviving are her beloved three daughters; oldest daughter- Rebecca Sue Young of Carmel and her three sons Christopher (Amanda) Young and their children Sam, Jack, and Anna Kate of Mason, OH; Chad Young and his sons Cameron and Boden of Noblesville; and Brady (Elizabeth) Young and their daughters Riley and Emma of Carmel; middle daughter- Peggy Ann (Ken) Williams of Summerville, SC and her three daughters Megan (Bradley) Husted and their sons Carter, Andrew, and Chase of Irmo, SC; Brianne Williams and her children Owen, Emily, and Henry Leland of Crozet, VA; and Ashley (Scott) Hetrick and their daughter Allison of Carmel; and the youngest daughter- Janice Elaine (Greg) Reed and her two daughters Mikayla (Ryan) Koharchik and their sons Reed and Rowan; and Kylie (Chris) Jackson and their two children Harper and Leland, all of Zionsville. Mary’s sister Rosetta Beck of Marion, her brother Lee (Linda) Moorman of Ellettsville, and her sister-in-law Rosemary Moorman of Swayzee also survive.
She was preceded in death by the love of her life, Leland “Peanut” Buroker; her parents; and eight of her siblings: Alice (Martin) Florek Cole, Dwayne “Bud” (Pauline) Moorman, Pauline (Tom) Kratzer, Ruth Ann (Jim) Sheedy, Margaret Street, Ralph Moorman, Janet (Jim) Stinger, Nancy Jones; and brother-in-law Tom Beck.
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to Independence Village of Zionsville and Luminary Hospice for their compassionate care, kindness, and dignity shown to Mary in her final days.
Services will be held at the Swayzee Christian Church on Friday, January 16th. Visitation hours will be from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., followed immediately by a service celebrating her life, with burial at Thrailkill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please do a kind deed, share a smile, and invite family and friends for dinner and add some water to the soup!
Please send stories, condolences, and cards to Rebecca Young, 13827 Plantree Drive, Carmel, IN 46033.
Memories may also be shared online at www.nswcares.com.
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