Mae Evelyn Gockley

A resident of Omaha, NE, born March 23, 1907 on a farm in Frontier County, Nebraska north of McCook to Frederick Charles & Jodie Josephine Sullivan Schoonover, passed to eternal life April 14, 2012 at Risen Son Christian Village in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her husband, Eldon in 1998, and son, Samuel Lee in 1975. She is survived by a son, Donald LeRoy Gockley and wife Anna Marie of Omaha, grandsons Larry Eldon Gockley and Janice of Sidney, OH, James Walter Gockley and Theresa of Lafayette, CO, David Lee Gockley and Cindy of Firestone, CO, Terry Ray and Teri of Westminster, CA, step granddaughters Cheryl and Tim Grothaus of Lima OH, Robin and Matt Rinehart of Lima OH, and Kim and Richard Moore of Sardis, MS, and a blended family of thirteen great grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren. Sister Mae was the last of a family of four Schoonover sisters and three brothers; Mayme Lavaughn, Iona Gertrude, Opal Claudine, Floyd Franklin, Guy Devere, and Lyle Franklin. She married Eldon in 1925 who retired from US West Telephone Co. after 45 years. During all their marriage, they lived their years in Nebraska in McCook, North Platte, Grand Island, and Omaha. For many years they enjoyed their summer home built by Eldon in the Big Thompson Canyon near Estes Park, CO. Mae was a dedicated stay-at-home mom for her husband and children. When the children were grown, she worked for a time as a store detective for a major Omaha department store, but gave it up for a more sedate drug store clerking job because, she joked, "being a store detective was making me mean." She lived the last 47 years as a resident of Elmwood Tower, formerly the Masonic Manor. Mae and Eldon in their active years were long standing members in the Masonic family. She was a 73-year member of the Order of Eastern Star, Andrew Chapter 41 in Grand Island, NE, and later with Trinity Chapter 299 in Omaha. The family expresses appreciation for Mae's care at Risen Son Christian Village, and the compassionate support from Hospice of Southwest Iowa.

A MEMORIAL SERVICE will be celebrated at the Central Presbyterian Church at 726 S. 55th St., Omaha, NE 68106-1364, date and time to be announced. Inurnment will be a private family ceremony. In place of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Mae's name to Central Presbyterian Church at the above address, or Hospice of Southwest Iowa, 427 E Kanesville Suite 100, Council Bluffs IA 51503-9079. Masonic family is invited to honor Mae among the deserving Masonic charities.

CROSBY BURKET SWANSON-GOLDEN

Colonial Chapel

11902 W. Center Rd. 402-333-7200

www.crosby-burket.com