Mary E. Sikes, nee Zarka, 85, of Granite City, Ill., born April 16, 1926, in St. Louis, Mo., died at 11:20 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011, at St. Louis University Medical Center, St. Louis, Mo.



Mrs. Sikes was raised in Delhi, Ill., and graduated from Alton High School and came to Granite City, Ill., in 1944. She retired in 1983 from the United States Government after 30 years of dedicated service with the Granite City Army Depot and Corps of Engineers of St. Louis as a procurement agent. Mary was a member of NRFE Chapter and cared for lost animals. She will be remembered for the many crafts she enjoyed making especially at Christmas, and also for the love and special times shared with her grandchildren, family, and friends.



She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert L. Sikes whom she married on May 24, 1954; her parents, Kallman and Esther, nee Duli, Zarka; sisters, Margaret Curtis and Irene James; and a brother, Joseph Zarka.



Surviving are her two sons, William Brian (Donna) Sikes of Edwardsville, Ill., and Robert Bruce (Pam) Sikes of St. Louis, Mo.; and two grandchildren, Ian and Zoe Sikes of Edwardsville, Ill.



Memorials may be mad to Stray Rescue of St. Louis, Mo. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.sunsethillcemetery.com



Visitation: There will be no visitations.



Funeral: Funeral service will be held at noon Friday, Sept. 30, 2011, at Sunset Hill Funeral Home, Glen Carbon, Ill., with Rev. Bruce Sikes officiating. Burial will be at Sunset Hill Cemetery, Glen Carbon, Ill.