Mary Elizabeth Oba
OBA, MYERS, ABSHER, MIDORI, KRAMER
Posted By: Sarah Fletcher (email)
Date: 11/14/2022 at 12:32:18
Mary Elizabeth Oba, 87, of Coralville, Iowa, formerly of Scottsbluff, Nebraska passed away on November 8, 2022.
Mary was born December 29, 1934, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska to Ivan Virgil and Julie Catherine (Absher) Myers. She attended Pasadena City College in California before earning her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from The University of Colorado. She married Calvin Midori Oba on June 22, 1957 in Alamosa, Colorado. The couple eventually settled in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and together they had four children. She worked briefly as a public health nurse but most important to Mary was her role as a full-time mom to her children, even to the extent of holding down the fort for extended periods while her husband treated patients in Vietnam and Africa.
Throughout her life Mary was engaged in social issues and generously shared her time and talent with others. Mary was an avid reader, an advocate for public libraries and she taught adults to read using the Laubach method. She liked to sew and knit and it brought her much pleasure to teach others the craft of knitting. Mary was an active member of P.E.O. Chapter E.T. in Scottsbluff, Nebraska before moving to Coralville in 2018 to be closer to family. She enjoyed using a computer which helped her stay in touch with many friends and relatives, and she became adept at texting and Facetime with her children and grandchildren.
Above all, being a grandmother was Mary’s greatest joy in life and she will be missed greatly for her cheerfulness, encouragement, curiosity and resilience.
Surviving are her children Roger Oba (Mary Beth) of Washington, DC, Lois Oba of Coralville, IA, Susan Kramer of Iowa City, IA, and Thomas Oba of Bend, OR, and five grandchildren Landen, Collin (Danielle), Alexa, Lily and Kinley.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents and husband in 2013.
Honoring her wishes, her body will be donated to The University of Iowa Deeded Body Program. A memorial time will take place from 2:00-4:00 on Saturday, November 19 Grand Living, 3 Russell Slade Blvd, Coralville, IA. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Lied Scottsbluff Public Library.
Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
Johnson Obituaries maintained by Cindy Booth Maher.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen