Mary Faber

Mary Faber, 94, of Brewster, died peacefully on Saturday, September 25, 2021, in her home, surrounded by her devoted husband and family. She was born March 20, 1927, to Margaret Hoy (Baird) Hurst and James Millard Hurst, at their home in Rawlins County, KS, during a blizzard that stranded the doctor there for two days. While growing up, she attended both Pleasant View School and Atwood Public School.

On December 9, 1945, 18-year-old Mary and the younger boy next door, Jack Faber, eloped all the way to Goodland. After they were covertly married by the Justice of the Peace, the newlyweds returned to their respective homes for one night until Mary spilled the beans the next day. The neighbors said it would never last. Seventy-five years later, her secret winks and spicy love pats proved those neighbors wrong.

Mary was a dedicated homemaker who steadfastly committed herself to her husband. Over the years, they built a family and a farming business together near the homestead where she was born. Later, as the farming partnership with their son, John, expanded, Jack continued his work with federal crop insurance and the couple moved from the farm to Brewster. Two subsequent moves for Jack’s job landed the couple in Hays and Manhattan for brief periods of time. While in Manhattan, Mary worked at Wendy’s as a hostess where she finally got paid to do the work she always did for her family.

Mary was a longtime member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Brewster and a devoted Democrat, who is perhaps best remembered for her ability to unconditionally love her family and for her transcendent love for Jack. All that, and her Sunday family dinners with lively conversations, endless grilled cheese sandwiches and milkshakes for the grandkids, and her relationship with Bingo – the game and the bird. She was the consummate mother and grandmother who showed her love by bringing family together and supporting her loved ones in whatever ways she could.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Lola Pearl Stouffer and Olive Hoy Bergling; brother Jerry Hurst; granddaughter Jennifer Renee Faber; and son-in-law Albert Holub.

She is survived by her husband, Jack, of Brewster; children, Jackie (Darrell) Jorgensen, of Brewster, KS; Vonita Holub, of Brewster, KS; and John (Renee) Faber, of Brewster, KS; grandchildren David (JimMarie) Jorgensen, Daniel (Jennifer) Jorgensen, Sarah Jorgensen (Dustin Wessels), Julie Williams, Matthew (Stacy) Wallsmith, Jessica (James) House, Joshua (Ronda) Faber, Jeremiah Faber, Jacob Faber; too many great and great-great grandchildren for a non-genealogist to keep track of; and many nieces and nephews. Despite her best efforts – some of which involved pizza and Bingo nights or threats to take us out of her will – not all of her direct lineage are Democrats.

Funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, October 1, 2021, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Brewster, KS. Burial will be in the Faber Family Cemetery, very near where she was born in Rawlins County. Masks are recommended by the family. Memorials are suggested to the Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Brewster Heritage Center, or Hospice Services of Northwest Kansas, in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. Online condolences: www.baalmannmortuary.com