Mary Nell McGuire of Ridgway
Mary Nell McGuire, age 87 of Ridgway, passed on this life peacefully at her home surrounded by her family, on Thursday, June 7, 2018.
Mary Nell was born in Eldorado on June 13, 1930, to the late Leonard & Elizabeth (Spahr) Schmitt. She graduated 8th grade from the St. Bernard's Catholic School in Wood River, Illinois and graduated with honors from Ridgway High School.
After high school she was employed at Scherrer Equipment Co. in Ridgway and later worked as a program assistant for 27 years at the ASCS/FSA office in Ridgway.
She met the love of her life, Lawler McGuire, at a Knights of Columbus dance on New Year's Eve and they were married on Nov. 22, 1951. They raised five children on a rural farm near Eldorado.
Mary Nell was an active member of the St. Kateri Catholic Church, Altar Society and Daughters of Isabella. She was always happy, with a smile and kind word for you always. She loved to be with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends and always had a great time. She enjoying embroidering and playing 500 with the card club, but she really loved to dance, and was always the first on the dance floor. She was known by many as "Granny Nell."
Mary Nell is survived by two daughters, Linda (Rex) Thompson of Omaha and Judy McGuire (Jamie Scherrer) of Ridgway; two sons, Jim (Tammy) McGuire of Carrier Mills, and David (Nancy) McGuire of Eldorado; seven grandchildren, Kristen (Lyle) Waller, Dylan Thompson, Audrey (Kelsey) Northcott, Clay (Andrea) Roby, Jace McGuire, Dustin and Whitney McGuire; four great-grandchildren, Addison and Avery Waller, Ayden Northcott and Everett Lawler Roby; a brother, John (Pat) Schmitt of Eldorado, a sister, Beth (Robert) Holt of South Carolina; a sister-in-law, Dolores Schmitt of Ridgway; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son Larry McGuire and brother Jim Schmitt.
Visitation for Mary Nell was Sunday, June 10, 2018 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Cox & Son Funeral Home in Ridgway, where a prayer service began at 3:45 p.m.
Her funeral mass was held on Monday, June 11, 2018 at the St. Kateri Catholic Church in Ridgway starting at 10 a.m., with Fr. Steven Beatty celebrating Mass. Her interment followed in the St. Patrick Cemetery near Ridgway.
Memorial contributions in her memory can be made to either the St. Kateri Church Building Fund or St. Patrick Cemetery. You may leave a note of comfort to the family at www.coxandson.com.