Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, nurse, sister, and aunt Mary Anita Michels Logsdon, 83, graduated from the School of Life on Monday, April 26, 2021 at the home of her daughter Beth Logsdon Peterson in Star, Idaho. Mary missed her husband Loren so much, who died from COVID on September 24, 2020, that she decided to join him for his birthday April 26.

Mary was known for her kindness, her warm outgoing personality, and her love and enthusiasm for life. Mary was very generous with her time, resources, and heart, and loved to plan special events for friends and family. She was in numerous clubs and sororities in Eureka and enjoyed making and keeping friendships. The center of Mary’s world were her husband Loren, her sister Carolyn Hilk, and her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was active in her church, the First Christian Church of Eureka and served as an elder several years. Throughout her life, Mary enjoyed musicals and shared her enjoyment with her family. Mary had a very active career as a nurse and she loved learning new things. She loved to walk and was known by her friends, “as a wonderful person you could tell anything to knowing it would not be shared and she would not judge.”

Mary was born on September 21, 1937 in Olney, Illinois, the daughter of William Bert and Fannie Josephine Oliver Michels. She married Loren Logsdon on June 7, 1959.

Mary grew up in Olney, Illinois and attended the Cherry Street School and East Richland High School. She was active in the band, choir, and won the Latin award her senior year. Mary earned her nursing diploma from Julia F. Burnham School of Nursing in Champaign in 1958. She was number one in her class and was named “The Ideal Nurse.” After several years of university nursing at Beu Health Center in Macomb, Illinois, Mary entered school to become a nurse practitioner through the Board of Governor’s program at Brigham Young University. Mary earned her Bachelor’s degree from WIU and went on to earn an MS in Health from WIU. She worked a variety of nursing settings during her life. She was one of the first nurses to become a nurse practitioner. She worked in several hospitals and spent most of her career as a nurse practitioner and then Director of Nursing at Beu Health Service at WIU. Mary also supported her family working as a nurse while her husband Loren worked on his PhD at Ohio University.

Survivors also include two daughters, Lori (Kevin) Bell of Canton; Beth (Mike) Peterson of Star, ID; one son, Bruce (Tracy) Logsdon of Meridian, ID; eight grandchildren, Lindsay Perry, Kelsey Tanner, Rob Peterson, Kaitlyn Bell, Patrick Bell, Bryce Logsdon, Blake Logsdon, Dylan Logsdon; and 12 great grandchildren. Great grandchildren include Gavin and Brooks McFarland; Will, Hugh and Clark Tanner; and Ellie, Calvin and Margot Peterson.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband Loren Logsdon.

Loren and Mary were very involved with activities at Eureka College, during Loren’s tenure there and after his retirement. In 2010, he and his wife, Mary, established the Loren and Mary Logsdon Endowed Scholarship for students who demonstrate financial need. They loved attending events and supporting the college in numerous ways. Mary and Loren were also very involved in their church, the First Christian Church of Eureka.

A private family service will be held at Eureka Christian Church at 10:00 AM on May 5, 2021. Although family services at the church are restricted to family, everyone is invited to attend graveside services which will follow the funeral at Olio Township Cemetery.

The Hometown Register, Olney (IL) - Tuesday, May 4, 2021