Mary Jean (Ellison) Stuhr, age 89, died Sunday, November 9, 2025, at Country House Memory Care Center in Lincoln, NE. Mary Jean was born in Topeka, KS, on August 28, 1936, to Firman and Florance Ellison. The family, consisting of her parents and siblings Bill, Don, Bob, Ruth, and Dorothy, moved to Waco, NE, when the children were young.
Mary Jean attended Waco Public Schools, excelling in all scholastic and athletic activities available to her. After high school, she began her employment at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in Lincoln, NE, serving as secretary to the management team.
On August 4, 1957, she was united in marriage to Loren H. Stuhr at St. John’s Lutheran Church of rural Waco, NE. After marriage, she joined Loren in operating the family farm and raising their four children: Gregory Loren, David Russell, Linda Diane, and Joan Elizabeth. In 1971, the family moved to Rising City, NE, and Mary Jean returned to Goodyear as a production scheduler until her retirement in 2001.
Her lifetime priorities included her relationship with the Lord, her family near and far, and the hundreds of plants, trees, and flowers that appeared on their Rising City acreage over a 36-year period. Some of her favorite Christmas gifts from family included a new wheelbarrow tire and a new hand hoe. Traveling by bus and participating in a bowling league became part of her retirement routine.
In 2020, Loren and Mary Jean moved to a retirement community in Lincoln, NE. This move brought many new friends her age—and the joy of walking away from a table of dirty dishes. Several years of declining mental health reduced her involvement in activities, but she always had a smile for those around her.
She is survived by her husband, Loren, of Lincoln, NE; daughter Joan (Stuhr) Suddarth of York, NE; son-in-law Clay Shepherd of Seward, NE; grandchildren Preston, Carson, and Lauren Shepherd (Alex Valin); Drake and Blair Suddarth; and great-grandson Kaden Shepherd. Also surviving are three sisters-in-law, six nieces, and five nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, two sisters, and children Gregory, David, and Linda.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, November 17, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 3001 I Rd, Rising City, NE. Inurnment will follow at St. John’s Lutheran Church Cemetery, 1011 Road U, Waco, NE, at 11:30 a.m. The St. John’s Church fellowship hall will be open for food and fellowship after the graveside service.
Mary Jean has been cremated, no viewing. However, a visitation will be held at Metz Mortuary in York on Sunday, November 16, from 1:00–8:00 p.m., with the family greeting friends from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation.