Mary Lou Vreeland

Mary Lou Vreeland

July 1, 1931 - Feb. 15, 2015

CURTIS, Neb. -- Mary Lou Vreeland of Curtis died Feb. 15, 2015, at McCook, Nebraska.

She was born July 1, 1931, to Hazen and Aletha (Schnase) Florom at their home in Curtis. She grew up in Curtis and graduated from the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture in 1949. She was an operator at the Curtis Telephone Company for one year.

On Nov. 3, 1950, Mary Lou married Nelson Eugene Vreeland in Curtis. To this union seven children were born: Kirk, LaDonna, Greg, Mark, Deborah, Kelly and Denise.

Mary Lou and Gene bought the Palace Café in Curtis in 1959. After Gene's death in 1961, Mary Lou and her family moved in with her parents. The family continued to run the café until 1971, when she closed it and opened Mary Lou's Drive Inn in Curtis. From 1979-1988, she owned and operated the Raider Inn in Curtis, and continued to operate the Drive Inn until she retired. In 1999, the Curtis Chamber of Commerce honored her at a surprise celebration for forty years of restaurant service. She was also awarded a certificate from Curtis Rotary in honor and deep appreciation of community pride and service.

Besides cooking, Mary Lou loved to sew and crochet and was on a bowling league for many years. She was an Avon representative and sold Playhouse toys, which gave her opportunities to earn trips abroad. She volunteered at the Thrift Shop and delivered Meals on Wheels. Mary Lou made scrapbooks and was especially proud of her collection of obituaries dating back to World War II, and was used as a local source of information by the community.

Mary Lou was a confirmed member of the Methodist Church in Curtis and taught Sunday School for several years. In 1969, Mary Lou was selected as Curtis Mother of the Year. She was an avid Facebook friend to many and enjoyed keeping up with friends everywhere, as well as being a loyal Cornhusker fan. Mary Lou, fondly known as "Grandma Lou," was very special to her 12 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Those left to cherish her memory include her children, Kirk Vreeland of Curtis, LaDonna (Jerry) Sundquist of Curtis, Mark (Barb) Vreeland of Haslet, Texas, Kelly (Randy) Peterson of Amherst, Nebraska, and Denise (Jerry) Wilcox of Crete, Nebraska; her grandchildren, Misty Atkins, Kera Vreeland, Michelle (Jim) Hackney, Michael (Vickie) Sundquist, Jeremy Sundquist, Lisa (Mike) Treadway, Sean Vreeland, Ryan Peterson, Joshua Peterson, Erin Wilcox, Jesse (Jaime) Wilcox and Jordan (Briana) Wilcox; her great-grandchildren, Alec Hackney, Alise Hackney, Tyler Sundquist, Cole Sundquist, Gracie Sundquist, Michael Treadway, Alex Treadway and Franklynn Wilcox.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Hazen and Aletha Florom; husband, Gene; brothers, George and Marvin Florom; sister, Betty Knox; son, Greg Vreeland; and daughter, Deborah Vreeland.

Mary Lou was a very caring and hardworking woman who helped so many young people of the community find their way in life by working with her at the cafes and drive in. She will be remembered as a one-of-a-kind woman with a heart of gold.

Visitation will be at Blase-Wetzel-Strauser Memorial Chapel in Curtis on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015, 1 to 8 p.m.

Services will be at First United Methodist Church in Curtis, Friday, Feb. 20, 2015 at 10 am. Burial will follow in the Curtis Cemetery, Curtis, Nebraska.

Blase-Wetzel-Strauser Memorial Chapel in Curtis is in charge of arrangements.