D. Irene Loghry

Aug. 7, 1924--Jan. 22, 2011

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Dorothy Irene Loghry, 86, formerly of Maywood, Nebraska, died Saturday (Jan. 22, 2011), at Community Hospital in McCook.

She was born Aug. 7, 1924, in Arthur County, Nebraska to Howard and Bessie (Crapenhoft) Vaughn. In 1929, she and her family moved to Red Willow County, Nebraska. Losing her mother when she was only 8-years-old required her to take on adult responsibilities much sooner in life. Added to that, when her brother went to war, she earned the nickname "Butch" while doing the farm work. She completed eighth grade in a small rural school, but she had a burning desire to obtain a high school diploma, which drove her to get her GED, accomplishing this with great pride in 1989, at the age of 64.

On Aug. 7, 1943, she married Lloyd Kenneth Loghry, with whom she lived happily for 42 years until his death on March 2, 1985. Through their years of marriage, she helped with the farming, working and harvesting the fields, milking cows, raising cattle, pigs and chickens, and doing whatever else was needed. During those years, she also worked as a waitress in the Aggie Inn in Curtis, Nebraska and as a telephone operator and bookkeeper for the Curtis Telephone Company and the Maywood Co-Op.

After losing Lloyd, she lived a short time in Maywood, then moved to McCook; making various moves there while working as a caregiver for many elderly people until her health began to fail. In 2009, she moved to Highland Park Retirement Center and then to Willow Ridge Assisted Living Community until her death.

Irene loved her family unconditionally and unselfishly doing her best to see that they had what they needed. One of her great enjoyments in life was playing cards. She also loved to visit on the phone, keeping extended family in touch. She looked forward to seeing and hearing from the kids and grandkids who thought she was the "Best" puzzle-putter-together there was and a "wild" pitch player.

During her active lifetime she was a member of the Garden Prairie Extension Club, the Maywood VFW Auxiliary, involved in the installation of the avenue of flags at the cemetery, and served as an officer at the state level of the United Methodist Women, and as president of the McCook Hospital Auxiliary from 1991-92.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; four brothers, Cecil, Bill, Dean, and Robert Vaughn; and one sister, Jean Fritsche.

Surviving her are five children, William "Bill" Loghry and wife, Judy of McCook, Peggy I. Kennedy and husband, Dennis of Culbertson, Nebraska, L. Kay Widhelm and husband, Jim of Hastings, Nebraska, Robert "Bob" Loghry and wife, Mary of North Platte, Nebraska, and Gregg Loghry of Benkelman, Nebraska; 14 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and several step-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services are Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. CST, at the Maywood Christian Church with Dale Heimer officiating. Burial will follow the services in the Maywood Cemetery.

Visitation is Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., at the Herrmann Funeral Home in McCook with family receiving friends from 7-9 p.m.

The casket will be open at the church prior to services.

Memorials may be made in her name.

Herrmann Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.