Mary Virginia Templeman was born to Virgil and Betty Wilhoit on Nov. 5, 1934, at home in Shelbina, Mo. She died Feb. 13, 2025, at 8:30 a.m., surrounded by her loving family in Brooklyn, Iowa. She was a devoted strong loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She married Carl (Zeke) Templeman in 1952 in Shelbina, Mo., and was married 61 and a half years. They had six kids Roy (Fran) Templeman, Dave (Regina) Templeman, Susan (Ron) Mullen, Cindy (Kevin) Trimpe, Carl Templeman Jr, Mary (Dan) Bass. They had nineteen grandchildren and thirty-six great grandchildren. Preceeded in death by her husband Zeke, son Roy, son in law Kevin, two grandson’s Jesse and Nathan. Surviving siblings Neice and Weldon Wilhoit.
She grew up on a farm helping her dad do chores and they had a horse named old paint she loved to ride. She Graduated high school at fifteen years old from Shelbina, Missouri and she went into a nursing program at the hospital in Quincy, Ill. Later she met Zeke, the love of her life after two dates; the third date was the wedding.
She was highly committed in faith. Throughout her life she worked as a Sunday school teacher, treasurer for the church, volunteered for hospice, sang in the choir and held a support group for the grieving. Never missed a day without reading her bible and speaking of Jesus.
She worked at the Pavilion North Nursing Home in Peoria, Ill., until she retired. Her and her husband traveled from state to state seeing family before they finally settled down in Texas where the fishing was good, surrounded by family. She cherished her family and poured out her love to anyone that she came in contact with.
Mom’s favorite verse : John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”.
A funeral service for Mary will be held at the Pace-Stancil Chapel in Cleveland, Texas, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 10 a.m., with Mickey Fountain officiating. Following the service, Mary will be laid to rest at Farley Chapel Cemetery in Shepherd, Texas.