Mary Lou Elder

Mary Lou (Dick) Elder, a retired Nursing Instructor for Central Community College, Grand Island, NE and Mary Lanning School of Nursing, Hastings, NE passed away May 22, 2024 at 95 years of age. Mary Lou was born June 5, 1928 to John Elden Dick and Mary Jane (Massey) Dick in Sedgwick County, KS on her great grandfather Massey’s homestead. She spent most of her childhood living with her paternal grandparents, John and Addie El Mina Dick. She graduated from Lebanon, KS high school in 1946. Following graduation she attended summer school at Wichita State University and received her certificate to teach. She began her career teaching in several one-room schools in Smith County, KS and Webster County, NE. She traveled rough country roads to get to school and often had to drive a tractor when roads were snow-covered or muddy. Along with teaching school, Mary Lou continued to further her own education receiving her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Education from Fort Hays State College, Hays, KS. Mary Lou continued to teach elementary school for more than 20 years before deciding to enter the nursing profession. She obtained her L.P.N., R.N., and Master’s Degree in Nursing. She worked a few years at the Smith County Memorial Hospital, Smith Center, KS, but she realized her true calling when she accepted a job teaching nursing students at Mary Lanning School of Nursing, Hastings, NE and then at Central Community College in Grand Island, NE. Many of her former students often commented on how much they enjoyed her classes. She continued to teach nursing while also working on a PhD in Nursing, until retiring at the age of 75. Mary Lou’s strong desire to learn went beyond academe. She was a self-taught bridge player, organist, seamstress, quilter, knitter, and crocheter. She taught her daughters how to quilt. Together they enjoyed many hours of quilting, shopping trips to different towns to purchase fabric and attending many quilt shows. At the request of her Uncle Earl, she became the self-appointed family historian spending many hours doing research and documenting the family lineage.

Along with her career Mary Lou enjoyed a wonderful family life. She married Orin William Elder August 6, 1947, making their first home on a farm in Smith County, KS before Orin went to work as an Inspector for the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation. Life was busy as they worked at their jobs while continuing to farm and raise cattle. During those years four children were born; William "Bill", Betty, Carol, and Robert "Rob". Every day included morning and nightly chores and many weekends were spent fixing fence, working cattle, and baling hay. Mary Lou also made time for their children’s school activities, 4-H Club, ballgames, planning yearly vacations and the annual attendance and participation in the Phillipsburg, KS rodeo and parade. Mary Lou enjoyed traveling with her children, grandchildren, her sisters, in-laws and cousins. She fulfilled her dream of traveling to all 50 states.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her loving husband of 73 years, parents; two sisters, Cora Lee (Bill) Harbour, Judy Zachary; son, William "Bill"; daughter, Betty, and grandson, Hayden. She is survived by her sister, Wilma (David) Abbott; brother in-law, Gene Zachary; daughter, Carol (Robert) Morris; son, Robert (Lori) Elder; grandchildren, Kim (Travis) Seward, John (Stacey) Elder, Torri Morris (Craig) Colboch, Jacob Elder, Garrett (Hannah) Elder, several great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

Visitation with family is 10:30 to 11:00am Friday, May 31, 2024 followed by an 11:00am funeral service at Culbertson-Smith Mortuary, 115 S. Seneca, Wichita, KS 67213.

Memorial contributions may be made to One Room One Teacher, University of Nebraska at Kearney, NE. Make checks payable to University Of Nebraska Foundation, 214 West 39th St., P.O. Box 2678, Kearney, NE 68848. On Memo Line put OROT in memory of Mary Lou Elder.

Make online contributions at https://nufoundation.org/fund/01124620/