|
Visitation:
1:00-3:45 p.m. Sunday September 2, 2018 at Lincoln
Christian Church
Service:
4 p.m. Sunday at the church
Funeral home:
Fricke-Calvert-Schrader, Lincoln
Obituary
Mary Elizabeth (Kinney) Boatman,
75, died at home on August 29, 2018.
Mary was the youngest of four children of Robert and
Stella Kinney, and was born in Rapid City, South
Dakota on November 15, 1942. Most of her childhood
was spent in Greenville, Illinois. She graduated
magna cum laude from Lincoln Christian University
with a B.A. in Christian Education. She was employed
by schools in Ingraham, Riverton, and Lincoln. She
Married Paul Boatman on June 11, 1966. As a couple
they were in ministry together in Sailor Springs,
Indianapolis, IN, and St. Louis, MO, before moving
to Lincoln in 1978. They also shared in extensive
missionary travels to 30 countries in Africa, Asia,
Europe, and the Americas. She was a partner in the
founding of C.O.P.E., a ministry among the Pokot
Children in Kenya. She was honored with a plaque for
her role in dedicating a unit of Kuki Christian
Hospital in Imphal, India. She served several years
on the Advisory Council of Good News Productions,
Internatonal, and the Alumni Council of Lincoln
Christian University.
Mary's Christian faith was demonstrated in her heavy
investment in the work of Lincoln Christian Church,
serving at various times as Children's Minister,
Nursery School teacher, teacher in children's Sunday
School and Vacation Bible School programs, and
sponsor in the youth program. She participated in
various programs both among the members of the
church and in outreach to the community.
She vacationed with her husband and/or children in
49 of the 50 states, most Canadian provinces,
Mexico, Europe and Israel. Thirty years ago she
joined the "Boatman Men" in climbing Mt. Whitney,
the highest mountain in the lower 48 states.
|
Mary's love for her children and
grandchildren was compelling. Even as dementia began
to intrude she cherished "the little ones,"
celebrating their victories and accomplishments and
weeping for their hurts and disappointments. Her
nearly decade-long battle with Alzheimer's disease
was engaged with transparency and courage as she
joined in three different experimental drug studies.
She did not expect the drugs to help her, but she
wanted to do her part so that her grandchildren
might not face the ravages of the disease.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her
brother Bob Kinney, and her grandson, Zachary Braddy.
She is survived by her husband, her daughters Angela
(Lee) Reiners of Emden, and Rachelle (Kent) Anness
of Indianapolis, IN, her grandchildren, Allison,
Mallory, and Jordan, step-grandchildren, Emily,
Libby, and Jesse, and one great-grandchild, Jaxson.
Her infectious smile will be missed by many.
Visitation will be from 1:00-3:45 p.m. Sunday
September 2, 2018 at Lincoln Christian Church with
Tom Ewald officiating. The Funeral service will
follow the visitation at 4:00 p.m. also at the
church. Burial will take place 10:00 a.m. Tuesday,
September 4 at Bethel Cemetery near Emden.
Memorial gifts may be directed to the Boatman
International Scholarship Fund at Lincoln Christian
University, Children of Pokot Education Fund, (C.O.P.E.),
or Alzheimer's Association.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to
Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home of Lincoln.
Click here to send a note of condolence to the family of
Mary Elizabeth (Kinney) Boatman |
