Mary Virginia (Schaaf) Forgue

Aug. 27, 1919-June 10, 2011

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Mary Virginia (Schaaf) Forgue died Friday (June 10, 2011) at McCook Community Hospital following a fall earlier in the week. She was born Aug. 27, 1919, at the 1733 Ranch in Kearney, Nebraska to Albert and Rose Schaaf.

She moved to McCook with her family while still a teenager. Mary worked as a librarian at the McCook Public Library and as a supervisor at the McCook Telephone Company. When the war began, she joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed in California, working in communications. While off duty and on their way to a dance, the bus Mary was riding in was involved in an accident. Mary spent several months in the hospital before receiving a medical discharge and coming home to McCook. She returned to her job at the telephone company, but she loved San Francisco and intended to return there to live someday. But she met Medis (Cricket) Forgue and they were married on Oct. 6, 1948.

Cricket farmed with the Orville Brown family, west of McCook, and was a fireman/engineer with the CB&Q Railroad.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Cricket; her parents Albert and Rose Schaaf; brothers, Myron and Mark Schaaf; and sisters, Angela Budig, Rita Woods and Thelma Meyer.

She is survived by her son, Mark and wife, Sheree Forgue of Lincoln, Nebraska; her daughter, Lynn and husband, Greg Burns of Kearney; grandson, Paxton Forgue of San Francisco, California; granddaughters, Erika Riggins of Starkville, Mississippi, Cricket Burns of Denver, Colorado, and Megan Forgue of Lincoln, Nebraska; sister-in-law and dearest friend, Leona Haase of Great Bend, Kansas; and three great-grandchildren, Ian, Isaac and Zoey Riggins. She is also survived by special friends and neighbors, Keith and Nadine Oetting and Evelyn Caldwell, all of McCook.

Mary lived most of her life in McCook. She was McCook's first lifeguard and until she was 90, you would find her swimming her mile at the YMCA at 6 a.m. in the morning. Her grandchildren were her special joy, as were her dogs.

She was a member of the St. Patrick's Catholic Church.

The Rosary is at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home on Wednesday, June 15, at 7 p.m. Viewing is from 1-8 p.m. on Wednesday.

Mass of Christian Burial is at St. Patrick's Catholic Church on Thursday, June 16, at 10 a.m. with Father Gary Brethour as celebrant. Burial is in Calvary Cemetery in McCook.

Memorials may be left in her name for the McCook Humane Society.

Friends may sign her book at the funeral home or send condolences online at www.carpenterbreland.com.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements