Mae M. Lofton

Mae M. Lofton

July 4, 1929 - April 24, 2015

HOLDREGE, Neb. -- Funeral services for Mae M. Lofton will be on Saturday, May 2, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church in Holdrege, Nebraska, with Rev. Karen Watson officiating. Interment will be in the Moses Hill Cemetery in rural Phelps County, Nebraska, following the services.

Mae Marie (Bergman) Lofton, 85 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Friday, April 24, 2015, at the Christian Homes Care Community in Holdrege. Mae was born July 4, 1929, at Holdrege, the youngest of two children born to Reno A. and Marie (Johnson) Bergman. She spent her childhood in Loomis and then the family moved to a farm north of Holdrege, until her father's retirement, when the family moved into Holdrege. Mae received her primary education from a rural school in Phelps County and then graduated from Holdrege High School with the class of 1946. She then pursued higher education at Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska.

Following her education, Mae was united in marriage to Richard Murrish on June 1, 1947, and to this union two children were born: Richard E. and Jacqueline. The family made their home in Pueblo, Colorado, for some time before settling back to Holdrege in 1962. Mae enjoyed being a homemaker and focused her efforts caring for their children when they were young. The couple were members of the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege. For a few years, Mae enjoyed owning and operating the Loomis Café, where she made many lifetime friends. On July 12, 1980, she was preceded in death by her husband, Richard. Mae held various jobs until being employed by Artistic Woven Labels for several years and then Becton-Dickinson prior to her retirement. Through the years, Mae also served as a caregiver for several elderly people who needed extra help with their daily routine.

On Aug. 17, 1991, she was united in marriage to Harley G. Lofton and couple continued to make their home in Holdrege. They enjoyed being active together in the community. They were members of the St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church and Mae also enjoyed her membership in the B.P.O. Does Drove No. 161, the Eagles Auxiliary No. 3132, and the Martin Horn Unit No. 66 American Legion Auxiliary. She also loved bowling on league night, and special memories were made bowling in the state tournament for over 40 years.

Besides her first husband, Richard, Mae was preceded in death by her parents; and one brother, Eugene Bergman, who was killed in action on Iwo Jima during WW II in 1945.

Mae leaves to mourn her passing her husband, Harley Lofton of Holdrege; two children, Richard E. "Rich" Murrish of Seattle, Washington, and Jacqueline Cone and her husband, Fred of Kearney, Nebraska; step-son, Harley Lofton III of Bluffton, South Carolina; three grandchildren, Jared Cone and his special friend, Angie Nelson both of Lincoln, Nebraska, Erica Nelsen and her husband, Justin of Lincoln, and Tara Murrish-Spong of Wichita, Kansas; three great-grandchildren, R.J. and Katy Murrish and Brooklynn Nelsen; and other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be on Friday, May 1, 2015, from 4 p.m. -- 8 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Mae's honor and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.