Mary Garrison

Mary Garrison, 87, of Kearney, passed away Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at Nebraska Heart Hospital in Lincoln, NE. Graveside services will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, December 11, 2023 at Kearney Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Faith United Methodist Church. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services. Mary Jane (Toohey) Garrison was born November 29, 1936 at Omaha, Nebraska to Paul and Jane (Gwynne) Toohey. She grew up in Grand Island and graduated from Grand Island Senior High School. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. When she was a student at the University, she met and married Gerald Stratman. They were divorced in 1980. On September 25, 1982 she was married to Le J. Garrison at the First United Methodist Church in Kearney. Mary Jane had worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in Grand Island, for NASCO , Inc. in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, for the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, and for Continental Insurance Companies in Denver, Colorado. She had taught school in Lincoln and in Rapid City, South Dakota. She and her first husband moved from Rapid City, South Dakota to Kearney in 1974. Mary Jane began employment as a caseworker for Nebraska Department of Social Services. She later was promoted to a supervisory position. She retired in 1999 after twenty-five years of service. She is survived by two nieces, Tamara Toohey and her husband Jim Larsen of Fort Collins, Colorado and Michele Hall and her husband Steve of Fort Collins, Colorado. Two great nephews Barry Hall and wife Kristen and Dalton Hall both of Fort Collins, Colorado, her great-great nephew Maverick Hall, and by her sister-in-law Connie Toohey of Windsor, Colorado. During her working years, she had belonged to Beta Sigma Phi, League of Women Voters, Business and Professional Women’s Club, and AAUW. After her retirement, she served on the board of the Retired and Senior Volunteer program and on the board of the Residential Assistance to Families in Transition. She was a volunteer for the Good Samaritan Hospital Service League and had volunteered at the Kearney Police Records Department. She had also volunteered for Kearney Public Schools, and for Community Action. Mary Jane belonged to the Fort Kearny Genealogical Society and had served as president. She was a member of Golden K Kiwanis and had served as president. She was chosen as the Kiwanian of the Year in 2014 by Golden K Kiwanis. Mary Jane was a member of Faith United Methodist Church and had served as church treasurer and on several committees. She enjoyed doing genealogical research and had searched her family tree for over forty years. She also had done research for others as a volunteer for the Buffalo County Historical Society. Mary Jane looked forward to Tuesday mornings with her Bible Study Group at Faith United Methodist Church. She also enjoyed her Saturday morning coffee group. She loved the Huskers and had followed Husker football since the 1960’s. She was preceded in death by her husband on January 6, 2007, by her former husband in 1997, by her parents, her brother Paul T. Toohey, and her niece Teresa Toohey Kline.

Mary Garrison

November 29, 1936 - December 6, 2023