MaryLou McCracken Obituary (1924

Mary Louise McCracken, the daughter of Katherine (Kralik) and William Beardslee, was born August 2, 1924 in Smith County, Kansas. She departed this life Saturday, April 20, 2013 at the Webster County Community Hospital in Red Cloud. MaryLou, as she was known by family and friends, grew up in Smith County, Kansas and received her formal education attending the Crow Hill rural school and graduated from the Lebanon High School with the class of 1942. She was united in marriage with Eugene Stewart Aubushon on May 9, 1944 while Gene was stationed at Redwood City, California with the United States Navy. This union was blessed with three daughters, Barbara Faye, Kathleen Kaye and Carolyn Grace. They made their home farming for 34 years in the Red Cloud area until Gene's sudden death on January 8, 1980. MaryLou was employed in retail for 14 years in several businesses in Red Cloud. On August 2, 1981 she married Corvan McCracken and he preceded her in death in February of 1989. In September of 1999, MaryLou moved to the Regency Retirement in Hastings and returned to Red Cloud to live in September of 2007. MaryLou was involved in a number of activities and organizations. She was a 56-year member of the Red Cloud First United Methodist Church and for 23 years she sang with the Sweet Adelines and Melodears. She volunteered her time with the Webster County Community Hospital Pink Ladies and later the Mary Lanning Auxiliary. She was a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary and for the past few years attended the Lebanon Christian Church. Preceding her in death were her parents; her husbands; a sister, Lucille and brothers, Marion in infancy and Wilferd Beardslee; son-in-law Larry Conway and a great granddaughter Stacy Ann Conway. Left to cherish her memory are her daughters Barbara Conway of Red Cloud; Kathleen Petersen and husband Mark of Columbus, Nebraska; Carolyn Larson and husband Steve of Loomis, Nebraska; 10 grandchildren: Bob (Kelli) Conway, Steve (Sheila) Conway, Bill (Liliana) Conway, Katie Conway, Dan (Amber) Conway, Gina (Dave) Hoffman, Tara (Doug) Leinart, Lisa Dirks, Joe (Amber) Larson and Carrie (Justin) Trompke; 20 great grandchildren; brothers, Charles (Muriel) Beardslee of Lincoln and Robert Beardslee of Red Cloud; a step-son, Bill (Sheryl) McCracken of Red Cloud; 3 step-grandchildren, Kory (Beth) McCracken, Bill McCracken and Kerri McCracken; other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held Tuesday, 2:00 p.m., April 23, 2013 at the First United Methodist Church in Red Cloud with the Rev. Lance McDowell officiating. Interment was at the Red Cloud Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Webster County Community Hospital in Red Cloud. Williams Funeral Home 241 West 4th Avenue Red Cloud, Nebraska 68970 PH: 402-746-2500 williamsfuneralhomes@yahoo.com