Mary Louise Earp, loving wife and mother died peacefully on September 23, 2016 at the age of 90 in Portland, Oregon following a stroke. Mary was born in Gary, Indiana to Anton and Nellie Alt. She was one of four siblings and attended Tolleston High School. To support the war effort, she entered the Cadet Nurse Program at Gary Methodist Hospital and graduated in 1947. She met her true love, Leonard Earp, on a bus in Hobart, Indiana after World War II. They were married in 1947 and had two children, Ryon C. Garee (formerly Garee Earp) of New York City and Kimberly A. Earp of Portland, Oregon. She and Leonard made their home in Merrillville, Indiana. After his passing in 1992, she moved to Hobart, Indiana.
Mary worked as a registered nurse at the Lake County Public Health Service, Griffith Public School System and several hospitals in the Lake County area for over 35 years. She was active with the Merrillville and Hobart Methodist Churches and volunteered for Meals on Wheels for 20 years in Northwest Indiana. She was a person who loved the company of others and enjoyed her bowling, golf, Bunko and card groups. She loved the community of others and was truly a bright and sharing spirit.
She is survived by her children and many nieces and nephews all over the country. Donations in her honor may be made to Hopewell House Hospice of Portland, Oregon or the First United Methodist Church of Hobart, Indiana. A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Hobart, 654 East 4th Street on November 5, 2016 at 3pm.
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