Mary Lou (Pipitt) Heinz passed away peacefully at Highland Park Care Center on Monday, April 15, 2013 after a short battle with cancer.
She was born on her parent’s farm south of Hemingford on October 30, 1937 to Lyle and Ruth (Gowin) Pipitt.
She lived at the farm until her graduation from Hemingford High School in 1955. Mary then attended Chadron State College and taught school for 2 years while living with the Ben Masat family. It was then that she met her husband Henry “Hank” Heinz. They were married on June 8, 1957 in Hemingford. They moved to the George Schneider place where they lived and farmed for 17 years. In 1976 they bought the family farm where she resided until her move into Highland Park in December of 2012.
Mary was blessed with two daughters, Sheila Marie, born on April 11, 1958 and Sonya Lou, born on April 8, 1959. She was also foster mother to Patty Alt for 2 years.
She worked at John’s Jack and Jill for 15 years and was assistant manager for 13 of those years. She really liked her job but her greatest joy in life was being a wife, mother and in later years a grand and great-grandmother.
Mary was a life-long seamstress and did a lot of custom sewing for friends and neighbors. Her girls were always well dressed (often times in matching outfits) and so were their dolls. Mary loved to paint, embroider and do many other crafts. She also enjoyed reading, cooking and baking. One of her greatest pleasures was going to and working at Pat’s Creative and spending time with her many sewing friends. Special treats for her were trips to Deadwood or Prairie Winds every once in a while.
Mary was very involved in the Hemingford Congregational Church, serving on many committees and holding the office of President and Treasurer of the Women’s fellowship at various times.
Mary will be remembered by her family and friends for her many artistic gifts which she generously shared with us all.
Mary is survived by her devoted husband of almost 56 years, Henry Heinz of Hemingford; daughters, Sheila (Glenn) King and Sonya (Dean) Buskirk all of Hemingford; grandchildren, Abbey (Justus) Watters, Casey (Brittany) King, Shelley (Dustin) McConville, Chad (Lexi) Buskirk and Justin (Sara) Buskirk; great-grandchildren, Shaylynn and Daren McConville, Celia, Keith, Jacen, Haley and Jake Buskirk, Jaxson Orozco, Danielle and Eli Watters and one expected great-grandson. She is also survived by brothers, James Pipitt of Rapid City, S.D., Robert (Orlene) Pipitt of Redlands CA, and David (Rachel) Pipitt of Wichita, KS, and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by an infant son, her parents Lyle and Ruth Pipitt, brother Dale, sister-in-laws, Fay and Tina Pipitt, and nephew Christopher J. Speer.
Funeral services will be held at the Hemingford Congregational Church on Friday, April 19 at 10:30 a.m. Pastor Jim West will officiate. Burial will be in the Hemingford Cemetery.
Visitation will be Thursday from 1-8 p.m. at the Bates-Gould Funeral Home in Hemingford.
Memorials may be given to the Hemingford Congregational Church, P.O. Box 397, Hemingford, Nebraska, 69348, Prairie Haven Hospice, 2409 Box Butte Avenue, Alliance, Nebraska, 69301, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com with Bates-Gould Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.