Mary Phyllis Creger

Mary Phyllis Creger

Jan. 20, 1932 - Aug. 14, 2022

CURTIS, Neb. — Mary Phyllis Creger, age 90, passed away on Aug. 14, 2022, while residing at Senior Living Choices in Curtis.

Mary was the first born child of Lydia and Edward Foster. She was born Jan. 20, 1932, in Colorado Springs, Colo., and was later joined by her brothers, Robert and Phillip. Mary graduated from high school in 1950 then the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1954 with her B.A. degree in education.

Mary met her future husband, David Creger, when he moved in across the street from her as a teenager. They were married in Mary’s house on Dec. 26, 1953, and have been married for nearly 69 years when she passed away.

Mary and Dave welcomed their first child, Daniel, while in Colorado Springs but soon moved to a farm near Palisade, Colo., where they tried their hand at growing peaches. It was there that Mary gave birth to twins, Timothy and Deborah.

Mary was a hard worker, raising three young children while hauling water to the farmhouse, peaches to the packing shed, setting irrigation pipe and tending the garden. Perhaps the saddest day of Mary’s life came when her son Daniel drowned at age 10 while saving the life of a neighbor friend who had fallen into a nearby irrigation canal.

The family eventually moved into Grand Junction, Colo., where Mary began her teaching career in elementary education at Riverside Elementary. The family moved to Berthoud, Colo., where Dave earned a teaching degree in vocational agriculture at Colorado State University, and they eventually relocated to Wauneta, Neb. Dave taught high school vocational agriculture and Mary taught in the elementary grades. In 1977, Mary and Dave moved to Curtis to take similar teaching jobs, and spent their remaining years until retiring in the late 1990s.

After retirement Mary continued to stay busy in church, school and community activities. The family wishes Mary to be remembered for her cheerful spirit, her enthusiasm for teaching, and her love of Dave and family.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Lydia and Edward; brother, Phil; son, Daniel; and daughter, Deborah.

She is survived by her husband, Dave of Curtis; son, Tim (Joan) Creger of Lincoln; grandchildren, David (Jessica) Creger, Paul (Emma) Creger, Helen (Mike) Anderson; her brother, Bob; four great-grandchildren; and other family.

Services will be at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2022, at the United Methodist Church in Curtis. Inurnment will be at a later date in Fort McPherson National Cemetery. The memorial book may be signed online at odeanchapel.com or prior to services at the church.

Memorials are to the family will be contributed to the Medicine Valley Schools Education Fund, and designated for use by the Curtis Elementary School Activity Fund.

Arrangements are with Odean Colonial Chapel in North Platte.