Mary Lou Pearse

Mary Lou Pearse, 82 Kearney resident Mary Lou Pearse, 82, of Kearney, formerly of Elm Creek, died Friday, November 6, 2015 at the Mother Hull Home in Kearney. Funeral Services will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 11, 2015 at the Living Faith Fellowship Church in Kearney with the Rev. Doug Shada and Pastor Dean Pofahl officiating. Interment will follow at the Elm Creek Cemetery. Visitation is 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, at the O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney. Memorials are suggested to the Kearney Community Theatre and Living Faith Fellowship Church. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mary Lou was born January 23, 1933 in Kansas City, Missouri to William C. and Darline (Miles) May. Mary Lou lived in several Central Nebraska communities until moving to Elm Creek in 1947. She was a 1950 graduate of Elm Creek High School. Mary Lou would later attend teacher’s college in Kearney. In June of 1951, Mary Lou was united in marriage to Carl Pearse in Kearney, NE. Mary Lou taught school at Amherst District 76 county school from 1951-1952. She was a longtime employee of West Company, after nearly 28 years with the company. Mary Lou later became manager of the West Co. Credit Union until her retirement. She moved from Elm Creek to Kearney in 2009. She enjoyed knitting, traveling, attending sporting events and Kearney Community Theatre, as well as, spending time with her grandchildren. Mary Lou was a member of the Elm Creek Garden Club, Red Hats, VFW Auxiliary and served as a reservation volunteer for the Kearney Community Theatre. Left to cherish her memory are her sons, Sam (Linda) Pearse of Chaseley, ND, Mark (Rita) Pearse of Fremont, NE, David (Donna) Pearse of Alliance, NE, Tim (Carmen) Pearse of Kearney and Jeff Jorgensen and special friend Mike Pivonka of Omaha; daughters, Marsha (Mike) Ourada of Kearney, Carol (John) Snow of Morganton, NC; 18 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; brother, Dan (Nan) May of Kearney and Bill (Loneta) May of North Platte. Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Carl Pearse.

Mary Lou Pearse

January 23, 1933 - November 6, 2015