Mary (Campbell) Ghormley, age 95, died peacefully in her sleep July 23, 2015, in Lincoln, Nebraska. She was born in Newton, IA on September 8, 1919 of parents Margaret Ferne Thomson and Timothy James Campbell. She graduated from Newton High School in 1937 and from Monmouth (IL) College in 1941 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts. In college she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. From college she went to Chicago and worked for a time with the National Parent Teachers Association, then as secretary at the Fourth Presbyterian Church. In Chicago she met and married Roger Ghormley on July 10, 1943. They moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1946 where Mary was a homemaker.
She and her family attended Westminster Presbyterian Church where she served as Sunday school teacher, Deacon, and Elder. She was an active member of P.E.O. Chapter DM.
She was a founder, past president and Life Member of the Lincoln Quilters Guild. In the 1970’s she taught quilting in her home. In the 1980’s she helped document quilts for the Nebraska Quilt Project survey and is featured in the book Nebraska Quilts and Quiltmakers. In 1987 she was elected to the Nebraska Quilter’s Hall of Fame in recognition of the many roles she had served in the renaissance of quilt-making and collecting in the late 20th century.
Mary was one of the key influences in bringing the International Quilt Study Center to Lincoln. Since its formation in 1997, she had put in many volunteer hours at the Center. Her collection of doll quilts and extensive quilt library were acquired by the Center. Eighty doll quilts from Mary’s collection were featured in the book Childhood Treasures, Doll Quilts By and For Children, published in 2008 and authored by Merikay Waldvogel, a nationally known quilt authority. At the Center her quilt library is housed in the Resource Room which is associated with the Mary Campbell Ghormley Reading Room, which was sponsored by the Lincoln Quilters Guild.
Mary is survived by her husband, Roger; five children- Peggy (Cary) McAllaster, Derby, KS; Phyllis (David) Hill, Anchorage, AK; Marilyn (Dave) Bruce, Omaha, NE; Keith (Jana) Ghormley, Lincoln, NE; Martha (Tom) Sharp, Lincoln, NE; 18 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and 11 nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by both parents, her older brother, Tim, Jr., her younger sister Margaret Caylor and great-granddaughter Moriah Caruso.
A Memorial Service will be held 11:00 a.m., Tuesday July 28, 2015 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2110 Sheridan Blvd.
Visitation will be held on Monday July 27, 2015, at Roper and Sons Funeral Home, 4300 ‘O’ Street, from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with family present from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m..
In lieu of flowers please make a donation in her memory to your favorite charity.