Mary Oard

Mary Margaret (Brown) Oard, 96, of Colby, was born February 24, 1921 to Virgil R & Margaret M. (Burnside) Brown on a farm north of Levant. She departed from this life to join her Lord and Savior on Sunday, October 29, 2017 at Citizens Medical Center in Colby, KS after a long and fulfilling life.



Mary grew up on a farm north of Levant, KS. She attended a country school as a young girl, sometimes riding her horse to school. She graduated from Colby High School in 1939. Aside from helping with farm chores she worked at the Thomas County Court house as the Judges secretary. She also worked for Fred and Grace Oard, who were neighboring farmers. This is where she met and fell in love with the love of her life, the Oard’s son Earl. And what an enduring love story they did have. They eloped to the Scott City Court house on May 10, 1941 and were married by the judge in the presence of two witnesses. They raised their four children on the Oard farm north of Levant. There was never a cross word between them; they were the best example of marriage and love of all times.



Mary loved the farm and farm duties, helping Earl and her in-laws in every aspect of farming. She loved animals of all kinds, especially babies. She loved her flower garden, her vegetable garden, wheat harvest, driving the tractor, working cattle, hunting, fishing, horseback riding and the great outdoors in general as you could tell from her tanned face and arms. In later years she and Earl loved to travel in their motor home, spending winters in Arizona. Most of all Mary loved her family, looking forward to holding each new grandchild and great grandchild. Above all she loved her Lord with all her heart, guiding and teaching those who did not know him. Mary was a lifelong member of the First Christian Church in Colby where she also taught Sunday school. Mary was well known by her feisty attitude, zest for life, ready smile and helping hand to those in need.



She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl W. Oard, parents Virgil & Margaret Brown and Step Mother Alpha Brown, her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Grace and Fred Oard, siblings Maxine Ziegelmeier and Max Brown, her daughter and husband Shirley Frame and Dutch Frame and her son Dan Oard.



She is survived by her children, Lila (Bob) Amos and Dale (Vickie) Oard; daughter in law Teri Oard; nine grandchildren, Maria (John) Milberger, Jennifer (Tim) Bruebaker, William Oard, Andy Frame, Justin (Megan) Amos, Ashley (Chris) Sherman, Cheyenne (Josh) Isom, Shannon (Sid) Unruh and Grace Lynn Oard; five step-grandchildren Dayle (Melinda) Frame, Stephen Frame, Martina (Ken) Emeka, Braulio Borge, Janeth (Damon) Thorsenberg; 16 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.



Visitation is 5-7:00 p.m. Friday, November 3, 2017 at Baalmann Mortuary, Colby. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday November 4th, 2017 at Baalmann Mortuary, Colby, KS. Burial will be at Beulah Cemetery following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials in her name to the Thomas County Historical Society, in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For condolences or information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com