Obituary

Mary Lou Fertig

Obituary

Mary Lou Fertig, 84, eclipsed the veil of time to enter the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on June 16, 2011, at Asbury Park, 415 Greenhouse in Newton.

The fifth child of Roy Joseph and Sarah Ruth (Yocum) Fertig, she was born on June 6, 1927, in Larned.

Mary grew up in rural Stafford County, attending Radium Consolidated Schools and Radium Methodist Church. From her youth, she loved singing hymns and reading her Bible. She graduated from Southwestern College in Winfield as a registered nurse in 1948.

After practicum at Mercy Children's Hospital and Vanderbilt Medical Center, she became a nurse cadet and entered the United States Air Force in 1952, specializing in surgical nursing. She earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing and did graduate studies at Colorado University in Boulder.

Her military career included overseas duty in Wimpole Park, England; Tripoli, Lybia; and Cam Rahn Bay, Vietnam. She was honored with the outstanding unit with valor award, the small arms expert marksmanship award, the Vietnam service award with four bronze stars and the presidential commendation broken cross award for gallantry for her air evacuation service with the Strategic Air Command in Vietnam. She retired from service to her country with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1977.

Following her military career, Mary worked as an occupational health nurse and was instrumental in establishing a joint effort with other retirees, Texas Industrial Health Associates. As the president of this corporation, Mary designed a mobile unit which was used to provide on-site employee health services including audiology, electrocardiography and blood testing for OSHA compliance in the Fort Worth, Texas, area. She led that corporation for 19 years.

Mary was scholarly in her approach to a vast array of interests: music, art, Biblical studies, church history, horticulture, farming, horses and languages. But most of all, she enjoyed people and was never happier than when a group worked together effectively or she paused to interact with a child. She championed the revitalization of her retirement community, White Settlement/Dido on Eagle Lake. Through tireless efforts with the volunteer fire force, Dido United Methodist Church and cemetery board, she encouraged others to participate and make things happen.

Following a health incident in 2000, Mary returned to Stafford County to be near her family living in St. John. With further health deterioration in 2003, she relocated to Newton to be near her niece, Robetta Trapp. She lived in Presbyterian Manor and Asbury Park.

She enjoyed the companionship of other residents and the staff members, seeking to help in any way, enjoying children in the intergenerational program and promoting group participation in activities, especially Bible study and hymn singing. She endured her decline as a courageous soldier, making the best of each challenge she met.

She is survived by three sisters, Lorene Estelle Jost of Hillsboro, Irene Ruth Jost (and Robert C.) of Hillsboro, and Betty June Dewey of Ellinwood; three half siblings, Velma Mae Root of Albuquerque, N.M., Stanley Roy Fertig (and Elaine) of Saegertown, Pa., and Raymond J. Fertig (and Jane) of Ellinwood; and many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

She was predeceased by both her parents; her stepmother, Ella Frieda (Jost) Fertig; a brother, Carl Allen Fertig; two nephews, Roger L. Jost and Larry Dewey; and many colleagues she counted as family members.

Mary will be remembered for her warm heart, ready smile, hearty laugh, personal integrity, quick wit, extensive generosity and faith in Jesus Christ. Her presence will be missed, but she now lives eternally free of suffering and pain, complete in righteousness and rejoicing with the heavenly hosts.

Full military interment will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Point View Cemetery in Pawnee County. Memorial service with the Nightingale Tribute for nursing will follow at 3 p.m. at Asbury Park Chapel in Newton.

Arrangements are by Petersen Funeral Home of Newton.

Commemorative donations may be made to Jack Van Impe Ministries, Air Force Wounded Warriors Program or Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation, through the funeral home.

Jack Van Impe Ministries Inc., P.O. Box 7004, Troy, MI 48007-7004.

Air Force Wounded Warriors Program, HQ AFPC/DPSIA, ATTN: AFW2, 550 C St. West, Ste. 37, Randolph AFB, TX 78150-4739.

Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation, Dept. 560, Washington, DC 20042-0560, (703) 533-1155, (800) 222-2294.