Mary Loop

Mary Aidyl Loop, 84, of Paxton, passed away on March 25, 2024, at Great Plains Health in North Platte.

Mary Aidyl (Stohler) Loop was born March 8, 1940, at Imperial, Nebraska to George and Bessie (Tipton) Stohler of Grant. Mary Aidyl attended Rural School District 76 before graduating from Perkins County High School. She graduated from McCook Beauty Academy before starting Mary's Beauty Bar in Grant. She later moved her shop to Benkelman, where she joined the Catholic Church.

On April 26, 1960, Mary Aidyl married Leo J. Loop at Benkelman. She moved back to Grant, where the shop was sold. They started their family, and their union would be blessed with eleven children: seven boys and four girls. Leo was a farmhand, and they lived in several states before settling in Paxton in August of 1981. Leo was killed in an auto accident on July 18, 1984. At that time, Mary moved seven children into Paxton, ages 18, 17, 15, 14, 7, and 2 six-year-olds. During this time of her life, Mary stopped using her middle name; only her 'old-time friends' know her as Mary Aidyl. She was contracted by Social Services a year later and went to work. The families she worked for started calling her 'Mother Mary,' and the nickname stuck with her ever since.

Mary was an active member of the Catholic Church, caring for the flowers for the altar on Sundays and for Memorial Day at four different cemeteries. She enjoyed the yard and flower gardening until her health would no longer allow it. Mary's collections of Nativity sets were always enjoyed at Christmas. Her family speculated that she had over 125 sets. Mother Mary was also known for making rugs, a craft she learned from her mother-in-law, Mabel Loop. Mary started crafting the rugs from blue jeans, socks, and bread sacks, later developing a rug she made from grocery bags.

Mother Mary is survived by her children, Earl (Beth) Loop of Imperial, Sarah Morse of Imperial, Lydia Lenhart of Roscoe, Paul (Katy) Loop of Fallon, NV, Frank (Kelly) Loop of Yuma, CO, Mary Mag Loop of North Platte, Veronica Loop of Paxton, Gabriel David Loop of El Cajon, CA, Gall "Gale" Edward (Angela) Loop of El Cajon, CA; fourteen grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; eight step-great-grandchildren; sister, Betty Piltcher of Lebanon, KS, along with many other relatives and friends.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, George (Bessie) Stohler; her husband, Leo; and her sons, Andy and Patrick.

Memorials are suggested to Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, 7335 S. Hwy 100, P.O. Box 429, Hales Corners, WI 53130-0429 or to the Diocese of Grand Island for the education of seminarians, 2708 Old Fair Rd, Grand Island, NE 68803. Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com, where the Mass will be streamed live.

Funeral Mass will be on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at 10 a.m. at St. Luke's Catholic Church in Ogallala with Fr. Bryan Ernest as Celebrant. Interment will be in the Benkelman Cemetery.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m., at the Prairie Hills Funeral Home in Ogallala. Rosary and Wake Service will be at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at St. Luke's Catholic Church.

Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.