Mary M. Larsen

Mary M. Larsen

September 8, 1942- October 3, 2023

Mary Michele Sumrall was born on September 8, 1942, in a Catholic Hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Her parents were expecting a boy; and had not selected a girl’s name. Mary’s parents agreed to let the nuns name her and they selected “Mary,” because she was born on the Feast Day of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The family soon moved to Mesquite, Texas, where Mary went to school. She was a Majorette in the band, played on the Girls Basketball Team, and made many friends. Upon graduation she went to work for an insurance company and became an Insurance Underwriter.

Mary loved ballet and dancing. She began lessons at age four, but was struck with the dreaded disease of Polio, at around age five. She was hospitalized at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, TX, for two weeks without visitors, and then transferred to Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital for about two months. Mary happily recovered without disability, unlike some of her friends who were not so fortunate. Some medical personnel suggested the strength she developed in her legs from dancing may have hastened her recovery. At about seven years of age, she resumed her dancing lessons until age 19.

Mary later advanced her career when her employer transferred her to Lincoln, NE, to work at another insurance company they had purchased. On her first night there, she met, and fell in love with Lyman Larsen, who became her loving husband of 57 years. Upon Lyman’s graduation from Law School, they married and moved to Omaha, NE where Lyman practiced Law. Mary continued to work as an Insurance Underwriter until the birth of the first of their two boys, Matt and John, at which time she retired to raise their family.

Mary, however, kept very busy doing volunteer work in the community. She loved it because she got to meet and work with so many interesting people and made many new friends. Her volunteer work included: member of Junior League of Omaha, President of Omaha Town Hall, Omaha Symphony Debutante Ball Committee, and the Women’s Aksarben Ball Committee. She also co-chaired fundraisers for the Nebraska Humane Society, Fontenelle Forest, Omaha Symphony Show House, and served on the Board of Family Services.

Mary enjoyed bridge, tennis, traveling and entertaining. Most of all she loved and cherished her family and her many friends. In addition to her family, her friends were her treasure, and she would always think of them first. The fact that she had so many wonderful friends shows they felt her genuine love and care.

Mary was preceded in death by her father, John A. Sumrall; mother, Freida F. Browder Chapman; and sister, Nancy L. Perkins. She is survived by her husband, Lyman; sons, Matthew and John; lovely daughter-in-law, Alexandra; Ali’s family; cousins; nieces and nephews; beloved granddog, Daisy.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 2:00 p.m., Morning Star Lutheran Church, 331 S 85 Ave. INTERMENT: Forest Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Morning Star Lutheran Church or the Food Bank for the Heartland.

To view a live broadcast of the Service, please go to www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “Live Cast” button at the top of the home page.