Margie Helen (Wilson) Mai

Margie Helen Mai, the daughter of Theodore Daniel “Dan” and Lola Margaret (Coburn) Wilson, was born August 5, 1928 at Beloit, Kansas.  She departed this life after a long battle with Alzheimer’s and Dementia on Sunday, December 2, 2018 at the Heritage of Red Cloud, Nebraska nursing home at the age of 90 years 3 months and 27 days.  

Margie grew up a city girl in Russell, Kansas where she attended school, kindergarten through the twelfth grade.  After school she worked in the local drugstore downtown as a soda jerk.  This also happened to be the place where she met and fell in love with Vernon Louis Mai.  With her mother as a witness, they married April 15, 1946, at the Salina, Kansas courthouse just one month before her high school graduation.  They made their home south of Russell, Kansas on a farm.  Born to this union were three children, Jack, Dana, and Joe.  In 1959, they moved from Russell to a farm north of Lebanon, Kansas.  Margie being a devoted farmer’s wife learned how to do everything on the farm.  From milking cows to running a tractor, driving a harvest truck, and even running a combine all while managing the home and raising their children.  For several years they ran a custom harvesting crew from Texas to North Dakota making many lifelong friends along the way.  

In 1974, Vernon built Margie her dream home.  They moved in the following year and lived there until 1987 when they retired, sold the farm, and moved to Lebanon.  They purchased a fifth wheel camper and pulled it out to Almont, Colorado, just down the road from where they honeymooned in 1946.  They breathed in the mountain air every year from June until the first snowfall as camp hosts at Three Rivers.  Vernon would tie flies for several area resorts while Margie would help sell and advertise for Vernon.  Both fishermen, Vernon would fly fish while Margie preferred to use worms.  Margie would can their catch to enjoy later or share with family.  Home for only a month, they would swap out their fishing gear and mountain boots for golf clubs and summer attire and travel to the McAllen & Edinburg Texas area.  From November to April they lived in a trailer park alongside the Palacio Real Golf Resort.  Margie worked in the pro-shop and drove the beverage cart while Vernon was a course marshal.  They enjoyed this lifestyle until it became physically too much for them.  

Margie was actively involved in community service, including United Methodist Church of both Lebanon and Red Cloud, children’s bible study, Christmas program director for Mount Hope and EUB churches, 4-H leader, and various other ladies’ organizations.  While she enjoyed fishing and golfing her greatest love was for her family and her dogs.
In 2008, they sold their home in Lebanon and moved to Red Cloud to sit and enjoy life at a slower pace.  Margie moved to Heritage of Red Cloud nursing home in 2012 where she has spent the last 6 years of her life.  She was preceded in death by her parents.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband Vernon of Red Cloud, NE whom she was married to for 72 1/2 years, son Jack Mai of Red Cloud, NE, daughter Dana and husband Dave Reicks of Hastings, NE, son Joe and wife Kim of Red Cloud, NE, 9 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, other relatives and a host of friends. 

The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the staff of AseraCare Hospice and Heritage Home of Red Cloud for their wonderful care and compassion.  

Memorials are suggested to the Margie Mai Memorial Fund in the care of the funeral home.  

Funeral services were Friday 10:00 am December 7, 2018 at the United Methodist Church in Red Cloud, Nebraska with the  Rev. Warren Schoming officiating.  Burial was at the Red Cloud Cemetery.

Williams Funeral Home
241 West 4th Avenue
Red Cloud, Nebraska  68970

Phone (402) 746-2500
williamsfuneralhomes@yahoo.com

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