Mary Elizabeth Herr passed away at age 94, on April 19, 2023, in Hesston, Kansas.
Mary was born on July 22,1928, in Plain City, Ohio, to Eli and Ida (Kaufman) Yutzy. She married H. Eugene "Gene" Herr on May 21, 1955, in Kingview, Pennsylvania. She attended primary and high school in Plain City. She graduated in 1949 (AA) and 1953 (BA) from Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana. Mary had a wonderfully diverse life and career that touched many people. From 1949-51 she taught at a one-room school in Plain City. In 1953, she moved to Chicago where she meet Gene while serving in the Mennonite Church's Voluntary Service program. After raising three children she returned to work outside the home, teaching Language Arts in Harper, Kansas, and Middlebury, Indiana, during the late 1960's to mid-1970's. From 1978-1982, she and Gene were co-directors of the Phoenix Discipleship and Service program sponsored by the Mennonite Board of Missions, and from 1982-1985 she served Director of Service Ministries at the Mennonite Board of Missions in Elkhart, Indiana. From 1985 through 2001, Mary and Gene established The Hermitage Retreat Center in Three Rivers, Michigan, a place where their vision and dreams came together. Located on 53 acres with a barn that was expertly repurposed by a local craftsman and family friend, it is a place for spiritual retreats and to connect with nature on wooded trails. After retiring in 2001, they spent five months in Belfast, Northern Ireland, working at the Columbanus Community of Reconciliation. They also traveled domestically and internationally through the years and across different roles and settings, Mary served and mentored others. She was a doting and loving mother and grandmother, a wonderful friend, and a chef known for keeping and starting family culinary traditions. She was also a gracious hostess and opened her home to countless visitors from throughout the world. Those experiences enriched her family and formed life-long relationships.
She was preceded in death by her husband; and brothers, Earl Yutzy and Vernon Yutzy, who resided in Plain City. She is survived by three children: son, Phillip and his wife Maria of Olney, Maryland; son, Karl and his wife Mary Lynne of Bayfield, Colorado; and daughter, Ellen Awe and her husband Darryl of Wichita, Kansas. She has six granddaughters along with their respective spouses: Jessica McElhiney, Heather Herr, Alejandra Herr (Brian Boyd), Emily (Chris) Metcalf, Amber Vogts (Matt Wilder), and Avery Vogts (Ethan Oltean). She also has four great-grandsons: Oliver and Jack Metcalf, and Sebastian and Benjamin Boyd.
Private family burial will take place at Eastlawn Cemetery, rural Hesston. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Friday, April 28, 2023 at Hesston Mennonite Church, Hesston, Kansas. Cards and condolences may be sent to Miller-Ott Funeral Home, PO Box 32, Hesston, KS 67062.
