Mary Lou (Walker) Abbott

MaryLou (Walker) Abbott, 88, passed away Sunday, May 28, 2023 at her daughter and son-in-law’s where she was living in Princeton, North Carolina.  She was born November 7, 1934 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Walter Edmond and Antonia “Dora”  (Kremer) Walker.  Three years after her father’s death, she and her mother moved to Nebraska City, Nebraska to live with her Aunt Mary and Uncle Earl Parshall.

She married Thomas LeRoy Abbott on August 20, 1952 in Auburn, Nebraska and they resided in Nebraska City.  They had 3 children together.  They moved several times throughout their marriage, finally returning to Nebraska City in 1999. Her husband passed away in 2003.

MaryLou was a wife and mother first and foremost.  She worked part-time as a waitress for Bridgeman’s Ice Cream and Restaurant in Rochester, MN, and later she worked for the Nebraska City Hot Lunch Program, as the Supervisor at Hayward School in Nebraska City, NE.  She enjoyed the young students there. 

MaryLou enjoyed sitting on the porch with her sister-in-law, Wanda Barrett, and their talks and shopping trips.  She also enjoyed visits from her sister-in-law Vernie Eblen and spending time with her children and other family members in Nebraska City, NE and Cedar Rapids, IA.  She also enjoyed traveling with her husband on day trips and mini vacations before his death.

MaryLou had a love for dogs.  She often would spoil the dogs of other family members to the point that the dogs wanted to go home with her instead of staying with their owners. 

She is survived by her two sons and daughters-in-laws; Walter “Wally” and wife Wanda Abbott, Thomas “Tom” and wife Pamela “Pam” Abbott, daughter and son-in-law; LuAnn and husband Garvin Bixler, Jr.; 11 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; Sister-in-law’s Wanda (Abbott)  Barrett and Vernie (Abbott) Eblen, Janice (Swanson) Abbott, Gail (Buckner) Abbott, and many nieces and nephews.

MaryLou was preceded in death by her husband Tom; her parents; 3 siblings died at birth: Charles, Betty Jane and Ben Edward Walker; Brothers/sisters-in-laws; Orville and Carol (Ford) Walker, Robert “Bob” and Lucille (Cruse) Walker and Lois (Glime) Walker; Brothers-in-laws/sisters’-in-laws: Delbert and Lola (Abbott) Barrett, Martin and Lorraine (Esser) Abbott,  Everett “Gene” and Margaret (Bolton) Abbott;  Brother-in-laws, Darold, Carl, Guy, and Larry Abbott, Dale Barrett ant Raymond Eblen.

The family would like to thank all the wonderful people at Well Care Home Health for her rehabilitation during the past year and also the wonderful people at 3HC Home Health & Hospice Care for all of their care, helpfulness and support during her final months.  You all were very much appreciated.

Memorial Services will be held on August 18, 2023 at 11:00 am at Gude Mortuary in Nebraska City, Nebraska.  A luncheon will be after graveside service at Pin High Clubhouse and Grill at the Golf Club at Table Creek in Nebraska City. Burial in Wyuka Cemetery, Nebraska City, Nebraska.

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