Mary F. Hoemann passed away December 4, 2011 at the age of 88. She was a long-term resident of Village at Skyline in Colorado Springs. Mary was born in Tonkawa, Oklahoma to Walter VanPelt Gard and Arthuretta Pearl Haight on January 21, 1923. She was raised in Tonkawa and was valedictorian of her high school at graduation.

Mary met Eugene E. Hoemann while attending junior college and they married as WWII began. Later Gene went overseas as a B-17 Bomber Pilot. Gene returned to the states after the war and worked as an engineer at Hackney Iron and Steel in Enid, Oklahoma for several years until he was ordered back into the military to serve as a pilot trainer during the Korean War.

Unfortunately, Gene was killed when his plane crashed during a cross-country training mission in 1953. Mary heard of his death over the radio, hours before the military chaplain arrived at her door. She was left with two sons, ages 7 and 6, along with a 4 month old daughter to raise alone. She never remarried, saying she didn’t trust anyone else to raise her children.

Mary worked many years at Humphrey Abstract Company in Enid before her retirement at age 65, but to her, her little family was everything; the only thing that mattered. She devoted herself entirely to her children and her grandchildren. She was more Erma Bombeck than Betty Crocker, but the one thing she excelled at was loving her family unconditionally.

Mary had lived frugally her entire life and was able to move to Village at Skyline in Colorado Springs in 2000. She moved first into an independent living apartment, then into assisted living, and finally into skilled nursing as the years took their toll. Her family wishes to thank everyone there for the excellent care she received over the years, and most especially the staff on the Fifth Floor of the skilled nursing facility who took such good care of her for the last year and a half of her life.

Mary is survived by her children: Robert E. Hoemann of Edmond, Oklahoma (wife Evelyn); William Alan Hoemann of Harrah, Oklahoma (wife Deborah); and Janice Hoemann Ernster of Colorado Springs (husband Joel). She had eight grandchildren she loved dearly—Bob’s children are Jeff Hoemann and Amy Doyle; Bill’s children are Nick, Matt and Meghan Hoemann; Jan’s children are Nick, Mark and Jonny Ernster. Mary is also survived by nine great-grandchildren with two more on the way. We know she will be watching over them as they grow.

We hope to have a small service at Village at Skyline soon and then Mary will be buried with her family in Tonkawa, Oklahoma. Memorial contributions can be made to the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region or to the Marian House Soup Kitchen.

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