Mary Elizabeth (Speck) Burgan

Mary Elizabeth (Speck) Burgan, age 72, of Des Moines, Iowa, passed away on August 28, 2026, in Des Moines, surrounded by her loved ones.

Born on November 25, 1953, in Des Moines, Mary was the daughter of Donald Paul Speck and Marjorie Marie Speck.

Mary had a passion for sewing and a special love for Tigger. There truly are no words big enough to describe Mary. She was a mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin, friend, and family to so many, simply because she chose to love them that way. Mary had a heart that always made room for one more.

Mary was a fighter. For years, she battled cancer, beating it time and time again. She faced every challenge with strength and faith, continuing to love, laugh, cook, and bring the people she loved together. This time, she lost her battle with throat and mouth cancer, but cancer never defined Mary. It could never take away her spirit, her kindness, or the countless lives she touched.

Mary was a woman of deep faith who lived her beliefs through the way she cared for others. If you were hungry, she fed you. If you needed clothes, she gave you what she had. If you needed a place to sleep, her door was open. She would simply tell you to “find a spot and lay down.” Somehow, there was always room.

Her home was more than a house. It was a place where people felt safe, welcomed, and loved. Saturday dinners were some of the moments that brought everyone together—good food, laughter, cards, dice, stories, teasing, and memories that will now be treasured forever. Mary didn’t need anything fancy. She just wanted her people around her.

She loved her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, cousins, and extended family, but her love never stopped with blood. Along the way, she welcomed so many others into her heart and made them feel like they belonged. She gave without expecting anything in return and loved without judgment.

Mary’s legacy lives on in every person she helped, every meal she cooked, every laugh she shared, and every memory she created. It lives in the stories we’ll continue to tell and the traditions we’ll carry on.

Mary may no longer be sitting at the table, but the place she made for everyone will never disappear. She fought hard. She loved deeply. She lived with faith, generosity, and a heart full of love. Though her time here has come to an end, the love she gave will live on through all of us. Mary Elizabeth Burgan was deeply loved, and she will be missed more than words can express.

Mary was preceded in death by her daughter, Lisa Echols; her son, David Speck; her parents, Marjorie and Donald Speck; her lifelong friend and “sister,” Becky Raegan; her grandson, Nathaniel; and her great-grandson, Pierceson.

She is survived by her sons, Jack “Brian” Kellogg, James “Jimi” Yates, Michael “Mikey” Bensley (Ashley Bensley), and Wiliam Franklin (Maria Lechuga); her daughters, Cherish Bensley, Mya (El) Bensley, and Katy Bensley; as well as many grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, and a large circle of family and friends who loved Mary dearly and will forever cherish the memories they shared with her.

Family and friends are warmly invited to gather in celebration of Mary’s life on Friday, September 11, 2026, at Merle Hay Funeral Home Chapel, 4400 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, Iowa 50310. Visitation will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., with the funeral service beginning at 11:00 a.m. Following the service, Mary will be laid to rest at Highland Memory Gardens in Des Moines. All who knew and loved Mary are welcome to come together to share memories, find comfort in one another, and honor a woman whose generous heart made so many people feel like family.