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Mary Rae McCorkindale
NORFOLK — Mary Rae McCorkindale, 82, Norfolk, formerly of Laurel, died June 18, 2023, at her residence surrounded by family A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Laurel, at a future date this fall. Burial of her cremated remains will be at the Laurel Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home, Laurel. Mary Rae was born Oct. 12, 1940, to William “Willie” and Evelyn (Hahn) McCoy. She grew up on a farm in Hartington and graduated from Hartington Public High School. In pursuit of a teaching certificate, she attended Wayne State College, finishing and receiving her teaching degree in 1959 from Norfolk Technical College, Norfolk. She taught country school north of Laurel, where she met her husband, Jim, who farmed with his family nearby. James Wilton McCorkindale and Mary Rae McCoy were married Nov. 5, 1960. Mary Rae and Jim raised their three daughters, Susan, Sandy and Sherri. Together, they farmed north of Laurel where they raised cattle, hogs, chickens and many farm cats. They also managed their own row crops and grain.
Best known for her sense of humor and kindness, Mary Rae volunteered her talents and time to many organizations over the years, helping deliver Meals on Wheels, and visiting and volunteering at local nursing homes. She was a long-time member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Laurel, belonging to the Women’s Altar Society, that helped take care of the altar and church.
Mary Rae was an amazing bowler and enjoyed making friends and keeping books for the two Laurel bowling leagues, to which she belonged. In 2011, she moved to Norfolk, where she continued to volunteer, tend her garden and visit with neighbors.
She was a huge Nebraska Husker fan, Chicago White Sox baseball fan, and loved to watch golf and other sports on TV, but her biggest enjoyment and pride was attending and cheering on her children’s and grandchildren’s activities through the years.
Mary Rae is survived by her husband, Jim, Laurel; two daughters and spouses, Sandy McCorkindale and Dave Warneke, Lincoln, and Sherri (Jason) Korte, Clive, Iowa; four grandchildren, Mitch (Amanda) Lanser, Laurel; Hailey Clevenger, Wausau, Wis.; Sydney and Kaci Clevenger, Clive, Iowa; and brother, Bill (Sue) McCoy, St. Louis, Mo.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Willie and Evelyn Mc-Coy; daughter and son-in-law, Susan J. and Randy Lanser; brother, Jim “Jimmy” McCoy; and two sisters, JoAnn Addison and Karen Koch.
Memorials in her name may be provided to the following organizations: Animal Shelter of Northeast Nebraska, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and the Wounded Warrior Project.
