Mary E. Loos, age 94, of Chandler, Arizona, and formerly of Huron, passed away peacefully on January 26, 2018, at The Village at Ocotillo at Chandler, Arizona. There were memorials services celebrating her life. The first one was on Saturday, February 3rd at 10:00 AM, at Sun Lakes United Methodist Chapel, 9248 E Riggs Rd, Sun Lakes, Arizona. The second service was in Huron, South Dakota at the Kuhler Funeral Home on Tuesday, February 6th at 2:30 PM. Burial was in the Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to Sun Lakes United Methodist Church in Chandler, Riverview United Methodist in Huron, Puppyjakefoundation.org, or a local animal shelter of your choice.
Mary Ellen was born at Lincoln, Nebraska, on March 5, 1923, to Warren and Louise (Graham) Rabel. Her childhood was spent in Lincoln and Peru, Nebraska, moving back to Lincoln after her father's death when she was eight years old. She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1940. During this time she met her future husband Dwayne Loos. They were married on April 5, 1941, in Marysville, Kansas and enjoyed 59 years together. The couple were blessed with two children, Gerald "Jerry" and Susan.
While Dwayne was serving in the Army, Mary and Jerry moved to be near Dwayne when possible or lived in Lincoln with Dwayne's parents or South City, Nebraska, with Mary's mother and stepfather, Floyd Taylor. Following discharge from the Army, Dwayne's employment led them to live in Hay Springs, Nebraska, Hot Springs, South Dakota, and Huron, South Dakota.
Mary's work experience included the Veterans Administration Hospital, a clinic and finally the hospital in Huron, South Dakota, where she was a registered records administrator following the required registration examination which took two years of night classes in a local college. Later she took two more years for a degree in business administration and at the age of 71, Mary earned her MBA.
She enjoyed singing with the church choir and with the Sweet Adelines until in her 80's, painting, quilting, doing ceramics, as well as hunting and fishing with Dwayne, swimming and writing poetry.
Several years after Dwayne's death, Mary moved to Chandler, Arizona, to enjoy the warmer weather and be near family. Following a brief illness she was unable to regain her strength.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters; and husband, Dwayne.
Left to cherish her memory are her son, Jerry Loos (Jayne) and Susan Oliver (Rick); as well as 9 grandchildren, Ashli Spencer (Mark), Justin Oliver (Michelle), Mike Loos (Rhonda), Jon Loos (Tammy), Steve Loos (Krissy), Carrie Pugh (Jerry), Jenna Loos, Jolene Loos, and Jilian Loos. She had 17 special great-grandchildren, Rachel, Abby, Kayla, Jackson, Brayden, Bella, Jordan, Maddie, Hannah, Sam, Ben, Christopher, Katelyn, Abigail, Gracie, Katrina, and Thomas.