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Note: OBITUARY OF MARY MARIE CHATHAM written by George Chatham
Mary Marie Chatham was born May 14, 1925 to Eli Spitzer and Eva Colburn in McClave, Colorado. She passed away August 18, 2001 in the South East Colorado Long-term Care Center after a short battle with brain cancer.
She grew up in the McClave and Wiley, Colorado area going to school in McClave where she graduated from high school. Mary's mother, Eva Spitzer, died when Mary was 16 years old. Because Mary was the oldest daughter of the family, many of the household duties and helping raise her younger brothers and sisters, fell on her shoulders. After High School Mary worked as a Nurse's aid in the Lamar Sacred Heart Hospital, where she met Vernon through some behind the scenes maneuvering of Vernon's brother and sisters. Vernon was just back from the war and they married January 5, 1947. They were married in Lamar, Colorado. To that union were born three children.
Mary spent most of her early married life raising her children and being a farm wife. She always raised a large garden, canning hundred of quarts of garden produce every year, along with milking several cows and helping watch and care for the livestock. After the children were in high school and away from home, Mary worked as a nurse's aid in the Springfield hospital.
Mary was raised in the Brethren Church in Wiley. Soon after Vernon and Mary's marriage, they began attending the Springfield Church of God, where, through the years, Mary has served in many different offices and responsibilities, particularly with the Women of the Church of God.
Mary and Vernon were actively involved in 4-H with the children. In 1997 Mary in memory of her and Vernon's work in the 4-H, received the "Honorary 4-H Members" of the year. Mary was also a Member of the Big Rock S & C Club and the Springfield Pans & Needles Extension Homemaker's Club. In her later years she volunteered many hours reading and helping in the nursing home.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon; her parents, Eli and Eva (Colebourn) Spitzer; two brothers, Lloyd and Robert. She is survived by two sons, George (Laura) of Fort Wayne, In., Paul (Liz) of Springfield, and one daughter, Ilene (Louis) Anderson of Brighton, Co. She is also survived by 8 brothers and sisters: Harold (Ruth) of Richmond, IN, Edwin, of Lamar, Thelma Schibblehut or Lamar, Lola McElroy of McClave, Clyde (Pat) of Wiley, Richard of Oregon, Harry (Flossie) of Wiley and Norma of Farmington, NM; plus nine grandchildren: Benjamin, Sarah, Luella, Derek, Stephanie, Linda, Ivan, LaDonna, Isaac; and three great-grand children: Kartryne, Gwyneth, and Brigid.
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