Mary was born to parents Edmund J. and Adelia M. (Gognat) Speth, in their home, in Vincennes, Indiana, on September 8, 1936. She was always called by her first and middle names at home, because she had an Aunt Mary living only two houses away. Family members, friends and schoolmates called her Mary Lee.

She was a good student and maintained a high grade average all through school, earning recognition by National Honor Society in high School. She graduated from St. Rose Academy in Vincennes in 1954 and from Indiana Business College the following year. Her clerical and secretarial skills earned her employment in several offices in the Vincennes area.

In 1959, she married Larry J. Binnie and moved to Indianapolis. She worked, for a time, at an insurance company headquarters building in downtown Indianapolis. Then, for a number of years, was a stay-at-home mom to her four children, finally returning to the business world, in order to help put the kids through college.

In later years, Mary worked for a Greenwood market research firm, transitioning from interviewing into the accounting end of that business. Feeling the need for more independence, from the normal workplace, she decided to establish an income tax preparation business at home. That coupled with the in-home business of distributing Shaklee Products, which she had developed over several years, provided income needed while moving toward retirement.

This arrangement allowed plenty of time for visiting with grandchildren, and for traveling - activities she greatly enjoyed. 1998, she was able to realize a life-long dream, that of traveling the Alaska Highway. She found that it was like stepping back in time, to a place with neither fast food restaurants, nor chains of motels.

During her years of living in Greenwood, she has been an active member of Our Lady of the Greenwood Catholic Church and served on the Board of Directors of Indiana Shaklee Association.

Mary came to Regency Place in March of 2009, suffering from the progressive effects of her diagnosed disease, of Lewy Body Dementia, along with crippling arthritis. In the fall of 2009, she celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary with her entire family.

Mary Lee is survived by her husband, Larry J. Binnie of Greenwood; son, Steven N. (Sally) Binnie of Columbus, Indiana; daughters, Carole J. Binnie of Indianapolis, Joyce A. (Greg) Buczek of Las Vegas, Nevada and Susan M. Binnie of Indianapolis; granddaughters, Ami Buczek, Stephanie Binnie and Samantha Binnie.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 31, 2012 in Our Lady of the Greenwood Catholic Church, where friends may call after 10:30 a.m. Additional visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sunday, December 30, 2012 in Forest Lawn Funeral Home - 1977 South State Road 135, Greenwood. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens Greenwood.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association - 912 Killian Hill Road, SW Lilburn, Georgia 30047 or to Our Lady of the Greenwood Catholic Church - 347 South Meridian Street Greenwood, Indiana 46143.