Mary "Boots" MarkoskiPEORIA - Mary "Boots" Markoski, 86 years young, passed away on September 1st, 2016, in Palm Desert, CA. She was born on September 14th, 1929, in Peoria, IL, to loving parents Franklin and Frances Barthell. Boots was active in the Junior League of Peoria as well as Palm Desert. She graduated from Bradley University with a Master's Degree in Education. During her 12 years of teaching grade school in Peoria, she also taught the first accelerated 4th grade class at Whittier grade school. She is survived by her daughter Barbara Maccabe (Scott) of Laguna Hills, CA, son John Poppell (Mary) of St. Louis, MO, step-son Jim Markoski (Jane) of Wilmette, IL, step-son Tom Markoski (Teresa) of Peoria, IL, step-son Bob Markoski (Carolyn) of Denver, CO, sister Barbara Schlink of Peoria, IL, and brother Dan Barthell of Arlington, VA. Mary leaves behind 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren and was preceded in death by her husband Bernard J. Markoski, sister Paula Friday, and brother Frank Barthell. Memorial Service and Mass were held on October 23, 2016, at San Francisco Solano Catholic Church in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. Internment will be December 3, 2016, at 10:30am at Resurrection Cemetery in Peoria, IL, with a reception to follow from 12-3pm at 2Chez Restaurant on Knoxville Road. In lieu of flowers, family requests donations be made to Eisenhower Medical Center Foundation, Rancho Mirage, CA, or St. Mark's Catholic School.