Mary Louise Van Lew

We are gathered here to mourn and celebrate Mary Louise Van Lew’s Life. She was devoted to God, Family and friends. On January 10, 2022, Monday evening Mary passed. We would like to share this poem.

God Saw You

God saw you were getting tired

And a cure was not to be.

So he put his arms around you

And whispered ‘Come to Me’.

A golden heart stopped beating,

Hard working hands now at rest.

God broke our heart to prove to us

He only takes the best.

Author unknown

Mary had a large family, there were two sisters and eight brothers. She was born in Fort Lupton, Colorado to Author and Barbara Spargue. Mary was raised in different location of Colorado, but her favorite place was Copper Spur. Her first job was working at Gates Rubber company. She married Donald E. Van Lew on January 29, 1955. Mary and Don were married for 52 years. During these years they raised four children, enjoyed eight grand-children, and eight great grand-children. Mary was devoted to the family. She took charge in managing the children and organizing the home. For extra money, Mary worked part time in the school cafeteria and made Indian headdress at a factory.

She was like an energizer bunny. Always busy. During her time, she received a President Award for walking and bicycling around the neighborhood, hiking up to Hanging Lake, exercising at local recreation center and square dancing. Mary was an active member in the Elks and Scuffed Shoes Square Dance Club. Her hobbies were gardening, sewing and embroidering. Later in life she would collect pictures and organize them into albums.

Ron recalls, “On date nights his parents would go to Shangri-La lodge to dance. Mom gave a helping hand with boy scouts, elks and square dance club. The family spent many weekends with the relatives. Mom enjoyed going to weddings, baby showers and family picnics. She looked forward to hosting birthday parties and holidays. Mom focused on the details, for example, the dining room table was set with the finest china and glassware. She had written name tags that were placed on the plates. Mom always prepared a nice meal. Everyone loved her homemade dinner rolls.

Barbara mentioned that dad taught mom how to drive. At times it was scary, particularly when she turned on the wrong street. Barb felt special when her mom would make an angel food cake with a seven-minute frosting for her birthday. Before moving to Idaho, Barbara’s parents would watch Joseph, Christine, and Michael so her and Don could go to work.

Esther remembers laundry day. Each girl had a job to do. It did not matter if you were short or not. Mom would place a wood bench under the clothes line. It was like an assembly line; one was getting the pins ready while another gathered the clothes and the last girl would hang the clothes. Mom was always ready for a trip. There were a couple of family trips to Michigan and Glenwood Springs. Jim and I took her to Idaho for Joseph’s graduation.

Cindy would wait for mom to leave the kitchen before sneaking in and eating the raw bread rolls. Her mom was always puzzled why she didn’t have enough dinner rolls. Mom was a real trooper when it came to camping. She could cook over a campfire without burning anything. Cindy felt it was because she was a farm girl. Cindy and Esther shared a room, when it was time for bed they would start talking. Both parents would say “Girls, settle down and fall asleep.”

Mom never slowed down in December of 2021. She would celebrate her eighty-ninth birthday, Christmas, sneaked in a wine party with her neighbors Ava, Bev and John. Mom’s last event was the Spargue’s breakfast. She was determined to see her brother Ned. “Thank God” he was there. Mom brought a special gift for her brother. It was a tender moment between siblings. Mary is survived by her son Ronald and three daughters Barbara, Esther and Cynthia along with in-laws, eight grand-children and eight great grand-children.

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