Obituary: Mary Louise Christman

Mary Louise Christman, formerly of Oxford and Pine Village, Ind., passed away peacefully in Meeker, Colo., on May 18, 2013, following a long period of poor health.
Mary Louise, or Louie, as she was affectionately known by many family members and friends, was 93 years old at the time of her death. For the past eight years, she had been a resident of Meeker, Colo., living close to her daughter and family. At the time of her death, she had been a resident of the Walbridge Wing nursing home, also in Meeker, since October 2012.
Mary Louise was born Oct. 17, 1919, to Glenn and Mary (Hall) Simmons on the family farm near Pine Village, Ind. She was the oldest of three children and was followed by her sisters, Jean Elizabeth (Simmons) Hilsabeck and Maxine (Simmons) Quaintance. Her parents, her sisters and their husbands all preceded her in death.
Mary Louise spent her early childhood on the farm, moving to Oxford with her family during the Depression. She was graduated from Oxford High School in 1937 and went on to attend the Lafayette Business College in Lafayette, Ind. She worked for a time as a secretary in the Department of Agriculture at Purdue University.
Mary Louise married her high school sweetheart, Cecil Eugene Copas, on Nov. 6, 1941. The young couple set up housekeeping in Pine Village and managed a hatchery for Mary Louise’s father. On Dec. 10, 1945, their only child, Bonnie, was born.
The family moved to Oxford when Bonnie was four, and Mary Louise soon went to work as a secretary for the Oxford School. She continued in this position for 33 years, retiring from the school in June 1982. She had many memories of those days and was known by everyone who passed through the school’s doors during her time there.
Cecil Copas passed away Jan. 22, 1987. Three years later, Mary Louise became reacquainted with an old family friend, Homer William Christman. After a whirlwind courtship of a little over three weeks, the couple was married on April 14, 1990. Theirs was a happy and fulfilling marriage, and Homer was sorely missed after his passing on June 3, 2007.
During her life, Mary Louise was a member of the Pine Village chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. She was also a charter member of the Musettes Music Club of Oxford and was a past president. In addition, she spent many years as the choir director at the Oxford Methodist Church and was an active church member. Following Cecil’s death and until her move to Colorado, she actively attended the Oxford Church of Christ.
Surviving family members include Mary Louise’s daughter, Bonnie (Copas) Ruckman and her husband, Bob, stepson Kenneth Christman and his wife, Bobbi, two grandsons, two step-granddaughters and the joys of her life, eight great-grandchildren.
She will be remembered for her sharp intellect, her generous spirit and her devotion to her family.
Services will take place at the Hahn-Groeber Funeral Home in Oxford, Ind., at 11 a.m. on May 30, 2013, with visitation from 9:30 to 11 a.m. that same day. Donations may be made to the Walbridge Wing nursing home in Meeker, Colo.