Mary Elizabeth Rousey was born in Dekalb County, Missouri to William Marion Rousey and Adeline Sampson. According to her cemetery monument, she was born May 8, 1855, although some family histories have the year 1858. She married Thomas Riley Grable October 14, 1873. They had a family of eight children:

Florence Gertrude b. June 24, 1874
William Perry b. February 2, 1876 (died young)
Mattie Martha b. April 25, 1878
Adelia Mae b. April 1, 1881
Katherine Marcelia b. January 13 1884
Thomas Elmer b. February 2, 1886
Clara b. 1888
Grace b. 1890
All of the children were born near Geary, Doniphan County, Kansas.

*Florence m. Boniford Hargrove, Dec. 11, 1893, Atchison, KS
*Mattie m. Frank Sowles
*William Perry died when he was not quite 4 years old
*"Delia" m. Robert Johnson Ackley, Feb. 22, 1898, Effingham, KS
*"Katie" m. Charles Franklin Brown, May 6, 1902, Kay County, Territory of Oklahoma
*"Elmer" m. Iva Anna Henderson, Nov. 22, 1906, Effingham, KS
*Clara died in home fire July 23, 1899
*Grace died in home fire July 23, 1899

Mary's daughter, Delia, told family members that her mother was never the same, after the death of Clara and Grace. "She never really smiled again. She would do her chores in life, but her life was never the same."

Mary's father, William Marion Rousey was born September 27, 1829, in Lincoln County, Kentucky and died October 26, 1900, in Monrovia, Atchison County, Kansas. Her mother Adeline Sampson was born March 18, 1836, in Dekalb County, Missouri and died August 8, 1910, in Monrovia, Atchison County, Kansas.

One can find the graves of Mary, her husband Tom, their son Elmer, his wife Iva, Elmer and Iva's son Owen and his wife Lucille buried side by side in Valley View Cemetery, Garden City, Finney County, Kansas. They have one large "Grable" monument as pictured, on this site and then each have their own smaller headstone with their names.