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Mary Peyton Hubbell Avery, 92, a longtime resident of Columbia, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015, at Lenoir Woods in Columbia.

Funeral services to celebrate her life will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, December 1, at the Missouri United Methodist Church Chapel, 204 S. Ninth Street, with visitation from noon to 1 p.m. Private family graveside services will be in the Masonic Cemetery in Bunceton.

Mary Peyton Meeker was born August 8,1923 in Bunceton to Gideon E. Meeker and Emma Peyton. She was a 1942 graduate of Bunceton High School and later graduated from the University of Missouri with a bachelor’s degree in 1946. Subsequently, she was an educator in equestrian studies at Gulfpark College and Stephens College for three decades, well loved by many students.

Her horse show career stretched 75 years in the saddle, and her horse show judging extended to 30 states. She was a member of the King’s Daughters, American Saddle Horse Show Association and Boone County Medical Society Auxillary, and she was on the Board of Woodhaven Group home.

She is survived by her husband, Dr. Willard Avery; son, Dr. George Peyton Hubbell and wife Victoria Pope of Lake Ozark; granddaughters, Alexandra Peyton Hubbell, and Kathrine Ferris Mauss and husband Matthew; three step-daughters and their families; and “Our Santana Rose,” her last Saddlebred mare.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society; Mary Peyton was a two-time breast cancer survivor.

Expressions of grief and sympathy can be left online for the family at www.parkerfuneralservice.com