Obituary for Mary Van Meter
Mary Van Meter, 88, of Happy, passed away on Saturday, March 14, 2020.
Mary was born December 29, 1931 in Cheyenne Valley, Oklahoma to Roy and Annie (Stapp) Dyche. She was the youngest of 7 siblings and a graduate of Cheyenne Valley High School. On August 5, 1951, she married Estel “Bill” Van Meter in Carmen, Oklahoma. To this union, three children were born. They resided in Oklahoma and Kansas until relocating to Texas in 1969.
She was a member of the Happy Senior Citizens Association and the Greensburg, KS and Happy, TX Extension Homemaker Units.
Mary had a home daycare business in Happy for 23 years. It was a place of fun and adventure for many children who she loved and cared for until 1994. She loved gardening, sewing, crocheting and bird watching. She was a talented seamstress and cook.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, siblings, and a son-in-law, Dennis Zimmerman.
She is survived by her three children, Karen Zimmerman, of Lawrence, KS, Rex Van Meter and wife Denise of Amarillo, and Otis Van Meter and wife Robin of Amarillo; five grandchildren, Erika Z., Erica L. (Jon), Joshua (Michala), Bryan (Kenna), and Cara; seven great grandchildren, Joseph, Justine, Nicholas, Jayden, Emily, Kauvia and Grace; one great, great granddaughter, Airabella, born on Mary’s birthday; numerous nieces and nephews and several kids she helped raise.
Services will be 3:00 P.M. Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at Brooks Chapel in Canyon with Rev. Tom Stribling, pastor of the Happy United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Dreamland Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, March 17 from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Brooks Chapel.
The family suggests memorials be made to the Happy Fire Department, PO Box 216, Happy, TX 79042, Happy Senior Citizens, PO Box 247, Happy, TX 79042 or to the United Methodist Church, PO Box 56, Happy, TX 79042.
Mary was born December 29, 1931 in Cheyenne Valley, Oklahoma to Roy and Annie (Stapp) Dyche. She was the youngest of 7 siblings and a graduate of Cheyenne Valley High School. On August 5, 1951, she married Estel “Bill” Van Meter in Carmen, Oklahoma. To this union, three children were born. They resided in Oklahoma and Kansas until relocating to Texas in 1969.
She was a member of the Happy Senior Citizens Association and the Greensburg, KS and Happy, TX Extension Homemaker Units.
Mary had a home daycare business in Happy for 23 years. It was a place of fun and adventure for many children who she loved and cared for until 1994. She loved gardening, sewing, crocheting and bird watching. She was a talented seamstress and cook.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, siblings, and a son-in-law, Dennis Zimmerman.
She is survived by her three children, Karen Zimmerman, of Lawrence, KS, Rex Van Meter and wife Denise of Amarillo, and Otis Van Meter and wife Robin of Amarillo; five grandchildren, Erika Z., Erica L. (Jon), Joshua (Michala), Bryan (Kenna), and Cara; seven great grandchildren, Joseph, Justine, Nicholas, Jayden, Emily, Kauvia and Grace; one great, great granddaughter, Airabella, born on Mary’s birthday; numerous nieces and nephews and several kids she helped raise.
Services will be 3:00 P.M. Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at Brooks Chapel in Canyon with Rev. Tom Stribling, pastor of the Happy United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Dreamland Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, March 17 from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Brooks Chapel.
The family suggests memorials be made to the Happy Fire Department, PO Box 216, Happy, TX 79042, Happy Senior Citizens, PO Box 247, Happy, TX 79042 or to the United Methodist Church, PO Box 56, Happy, TX 79042.