Mary Jean Lohoefener of Oberlin, 92, passed away Monday, November 26, 2018 in Colby, Kansas. Mary was born November 8, 1926 to Lorenzo (Rennie) H. and Jessie L. (Woolley) Barnes in Oberlin, Kansas. She was proud of being a great niece to James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok (via her paternal grandmother, Lydia Hickok Barnes).

Mary graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1944. She married Wayne Lohoefener, and spent many years being a wife, farmhand and mother. In 1973, Wayne mentioned that his friends’ wives worked… Mary went to work at Decatur County Hospital, and loved being a nurse aide for thirty-five years, retiring at age 83. Mary cared for any animal, particularly her cats and her last dog, Sam. She enjoyed arrowhead hunting, digging for bottles, collecting antiques, and refinishing/repairing her many finds. After she gave up her driver’s license, Mary spent years riding her bike around Oberlin, enjoying her independence.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, husband and sisters: Irel (Barnes) Hayes, Velma (Barnes) Ater, Beverly (Barnes) Higley, Ethel (Barnes) Nicodemus, and Ruth Barnes.

She is survived by her sister, Marjorie Evelyn (Barnes) Lindberg of Gordonsville, VA; children: Bill (Sharon Erickson) Lohoefener of North Platte, NE, Dr. Ren (Lyn Lohmeier) Lohoefener of Sacramento, CA, and Jo Ellen (Phil) DeYoung of Colby, KS; grandchildren: Chad (Julie) Lohoefener, Zoë & Oliver of Tampa, FL, Ryan Lohoefener of Phoenix, AZ, Brett Lohoefener of Ames, IA, and Cole Lohoefener of Lincoln, NE.

There will be no visitation. The family plans to have a Celebration of Life at a later date. Suggested memorials are to the Decatur County Health Systems and the North Platte City Animal Shelter (in memory of Sam) and may be sent in care of Pauls Funeral home, 121 N. Penn Ave, Oberlin, KS 67749.