Mary Herman

Mary Helen Herman, a long-time resident of Vernal, Utah, passed away peacefully on January 12, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. Mary was born September 21, 1919 in Lay, Colorado to Rachel and Roy D. Mills. When she was five years old, the family moved to Vernal, Utah. After graduating from Uintah High School in 1938, Mary went on to attend St. Mark's Hospital, School of Nursing in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she was elected student body president and graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1944. While a student there, she met a young Army Air Force flight engineer, Charles Leslie "Les" Herman, who was briefly assigned to Hill Army Air Base during WWII. They had two or three dates before Les was sent to Great Britain. Even after that short courtship, a deep connection was made, and after a year of exchanging letters, and Les surviving a POW camp in Germany, they were married shortly upon his return on June 27, 1945 in Canon City, Colorado. For the next 63 years, they made a loving home in Vernal, Utah. Mary worked for many years as an RN at the office of Drs. Tyrrell Seager and Ray E. Spendlove. She was an active member of Kingsbury Community Church and served as a Sunday school teacher, Deaconess, and president of the Ladies Aid Society. The church's annual Election Day dinner was one of her favorite events to organize. Mary's other interests included crocheting and needlework, gardening in her flower and vegetable garden, camping and travelling, and visiting with her many friends and extended family members. In her later years, nothing brought her more joy than sitting in her rocking chair, on the porch of her home, overlooking the farm that she and Les shared for over sixty years. After her husband's passing in 2008, Mary moved to Aurora, Colorado to live with her daughter. There she enjoyed attending church and spending time with family. Preceded in death by her husband, Charles Leslie Herman; she is survived by her son, David (Julie) Herman of Steamboat Springs, CO; her daughter, Judy Strong, of Aurora, CO; grandchildren, Lesley-Anne (Rick) Higgins of Golden, CO; Rebecca Herman and Jeremy Herman of Denver, CO; and Great-Grandchildren, Will and Emmalyn Higgins. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Holly Heights Nursing Home and Optum Hospice in Denver, Colorado for the loving care they provided to Mary in her final months. Honoring Mary's wishes, the family will hold a memorial service Sat July 25, 2015 at 11 am in Vernal Memorial Park Vernal, Utah. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to benefit Kingsbury Community Church, 65 East 100 North, Vernal, UT 84078.