Mary Alice (Schenk) Holbrook

Mary  Alice(Schenk Krueger) Holbrook's heart is at peace now.  Born to Max and Zella (Kohlmeyer) Schenk February 24, 1941 in Forsyth, Montana, Mary was the youngest of five children.  Growing up in eastern Montana her special companions were the four-legged kind including her dog, Stubby, and many cats.  Tucked in her Bible along with a note regarding the passing of her sister, Iris, were notes about the passing of her last, two most special cats, Bob and Fred.

Mary married Arthur Krueger June 2, 1957 in Forsyth, Montana .  While the marriage ended in 1972, Mary and Art had two children, Donna and Keith.

Working for many years as a secretary, Mary was a quick and accurate typist, an efficient bookkeeper and a cheerful front desk presence.  As much as she enjoyed the work, she enjoyed the "uniform" more:  Her sense of style was apparent as was her love of shoes.  Many times we would be looking at family photos and she would say, "Well, you can't see them, but these shoes were...." She only recently gave up wearing her high, high heels, passing them---along with her love of shoes---to her granddaughter Molly Rose. She could easily be identified in any group as "the lady with the hat."

A loving spirit, Mary searched to find her life's companion.  She found that in David Holbrook whom she loved and married in April, 1994. She treasured twenty-two years of being a homemaker enjoying gardening, sewing, embroidery and cooking.  Her husband and family savored the fruits of her labors eating her stellar pies.  Moving with David's job from Wyoming to California to Kentucky and finally to Arizona, their dream was to return to the wilds of Wyoming.  While health issues for each of them made this just a dream, Mary literally made lemonade out of lemons embracing the bounty of the southwest.  She was well known by the watermelon vendors and often had two or more melons lined up in her pantry.

A voracious reader, Mary and David's home is filled with books ---many of which were found in thrift store forays.  Mary and David were quick to share their love of reading shipping boxes filled with books to the many young people in their lives.  Evenings would find the couple sitting side-by-side reading aloud to one another.  Verbally adept, Mary's dry wit found expression in her love of puns and other word play.  She and her son shared that dry sense of humor and spent many hours laughing together playing off of one another's comments.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Iris Haines.  She is survived by her husband David Holbrook at the family home in Yuma, AZ; daughter Donna Krueger (Eric Rupp) Spokane, WA; son Keith (Beverly) Yamhill, OR; brothers Charles (Lincoln, NE), Gale (Billings, MT),  and  Mike (Roundup, MT); three grandchildren, Megan and Reed Krueger, and Molly Rupp.

Mary enjoyed the friendship of many women of faith attending several Bible studies in the community.  She found solace in her faith and was re-baptized June 2014.  We look to the resurrection where we will be once again be present with our mother, wife, sister and friend.  Memorial services will be held  Friday, December 9th at 12:30 p.m. at Yuma Central Adventist church 1681 South 6th Avenue, Yuma, AZ. with lunch to follow in the fellowship hall.  In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to the friends of the library.

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