1931
Mary
2017
Mary Bridge
March 5, 1931 — April 29, 2017
Mary Corinne Bridge passed away peacefully at her home on April 29th 2017 in Shawnee Kansas.
Mary was born to Ralph Larkin and Cora Belle (Mason) Hilderbrand on March 5, 1931 in Harrison Nebraska. She attended school in Harrison until the death of her mother in 1943. She and her younger siblings were then moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa where they lived with their Grandma Louise and Grandpa George Hilderbrand. A couple of years later Mary moved to San Diego California to live with her Aunt Leona Darling. There she met and married a young man named Gene Dollard from Kansas City, Kansas. To this union five children were born, Bonnie, Ralph, George, Twila and Shirley.
She later married high school sweetheart Harley (Tuffy) Bridge from Crawford, Nebr. Mary took in all kinds of strays in her life, both the two and the four legged kind, including those with wings. Many children passed through Mary’s doors some staying for lengths at a time including stepchildren, friends, nieces, nephews and grandchildren. They fulfilled many spots in her life and she into theirs. She was and will be known as “MA” to many.
Mary went to beauty college and worked as a beauty instructor becoming a beautician which she did all her life. She started at 18 and finished at the age of 83. Three of her ladies were with her from beginning to the end and became close friends.
She was VERY passionate about quilting and made sure everyone of her family and friends were “Covered” with her beautiful one of a kind quilts. She spent hours talking to her niece each week about which quilts were being done and getting ideas on what was new that she could do for the next one, until she ran out of air and had to hang up, it was usually an hour or two later. She enjoyed visiting!
Mary was very good at giving instructions. One of her last request to all of us was to “keep in touch and keep this short!” Which believe me is so hard as I think of her and miss her instructions in life. She has tried to show us all how to love each other – trust in God - let go – and keep on living to our fullest potential. She has been our Mom, instructor and mentor and will be missed.
She went to her home in heaven to join both her parents, Ralph & Cora Hilderbrand, sisters, Juanita Hamaker, Emma Jean Hoyt, a brother Russell Hilderbrand, daughter-in-law Mary Claire Dollard and one nephew Ricky Hamaker.
Those she leaves behind are her Children, Ralph & Kathy Dollard of Lawrence KS, Bonnie & Bob Shipman of Shawnee, KS, George Dollard & Cindy Royal of Sugar Creek, MO, Twila & John Applegarth of Shawnee, KS, and Shirley Child who was living with her at the time of her death. Brothers, Ralph & Deljean Hilderbrand of Miles City, MT and Ed & Cheri Hilderbrand of Casper, WY, and half-brother Raymond Hilderbrand of Kingman, AZ. Grandchildren: Wesley & Shannon Dollard, Justin Dollard, Nathan Dollard, Stephanie Shipman, Stephen Shipman & Brandy Stimec, and step grandson Jesse & Jessica Miller. Great- Grandchildren: Kaige Shipman, James Dollard, step-great grandchildren, Haley and Dalton and 12 nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held Wednesday at the Johnson County Chapel from 6-8pm at 112 th & Metcalf. Graveside services will be Thursday at Shawnee Mission Memorial Gardens 23215 West 75th. Donations may be sent to Kansas City Hospice 1500 Meadow Lake Parkway #200, Kansas City, MO 64114 or to Heartland SPCA, 5424 Antioch Drive, Merriam,KS. 66602
Mary was born to Ralph Larkin and Cora Belle (Mason) Hilderbrand on March 5, 1931 in Harrison Nebraska. She attended school in Harrison until the death of her mother in 1943. She and her younger siblings were then moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa where they lived with their Grandma Louise and Grandpa George Hilderbrand. A couple of years later Mary moved to San Diego California to live with her Aunt Leona Darling. There she met and married a young man named Gene Dollard from Kansas City, Kansas. To this union five children were born, Bonnie, Ralph, George, Twila and Shirley.
She later married high school sweetheart Harley (Tuffy) Bridge from Crawford, Nebr. Mary took in all kinds of strays in her life, both the two and the four legged kind, including those with wings. Many children passed through Mary’s doors some staying for lengths at a time including stepchildren, friends, nieces, nephews and grandchildren. They fulfilled many spots in her life and she into theirs. She was and will be known as “MA” to many.
Mary went to beauty college and worked as a beauty instructor becoming a beautician which she did all her life. She started at 18 and finished at the age of 83. Three of her ladies were with her from beginning to the end and became close friends.
She was VERY passionate about quilting and made sure everyone of her family and friends were “Covered” with her beautiful one of a kind quilts. She spent hours talking to her niece each week about which quilts were being done and getting ideas on what was new that she could do for the next one, until she ran out of air and had to hang up, it was usually an hour or two later. She enjoyed visiting!
Mary was very good at giving instructions. One of her last request to all of us was to “keep in touch and keep this short!” Which believe me is so hard as I think of her and miss her instructions in life. She has tried to show us all how to love each other – trust in God - let go – and keep on living to our fullest potential. She has been our Mom, instructor and mentor and will be missed.
She went to her home in heaven to join both her parents, Ralph & Cora Hilderbrand, sisters, Juanita Hamaker, Emma Jean Hoyt, a brother Russell Hilderbrand, daughter-in-law Mary Claire Dollard and one nephew Ricky Hamaker.
Those she leaves behind are her Children, Ralph & Kathy Dollard of Lawrence KS, Bonnie & Bob Shipman of Shawnee, KS, George Dollard & Cindy Royal of Sugar Creek, MO, Twila & John Applegarth of Shawnee, KS, and Shirley Child who was living with her at the time of her death. Brothers, Ralph & Deljean Hilderbrand of Miles City, MT and Ed & Cheri Hilderbrand of Casper, WY, and half-brother Raymond Hilderbrand of Kingman, AZ. Grandchildren: Wesley & Shannon Dollard, Justin Dollard, Nathan Dollard, Stephanie Shipman, Stephen Shipman & Brandy Stimec, and step grandson Jesse & Jessica Miller. Great- Grandchildren: Kaige Shipman, James Dollard, step-great grandchildren, Haley and Dalton and 12 nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held Wednesday at the Johnson County Chapel from 6-8pm at 112 th & Metcalf. Graveside services will be Thursday at Shawnee Mission Memorial Gardens 23215 West 75th. Donations may be sent to Kansas City Hospice 1500 Meadow Lake Parkway #200, Kansas City, MO 64114 or to Heartland SPCA, 5424 Antioch Drive, Merriam,KS. 66602
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