Margaret Mary Somervell

Margaret Mary McCord Somervell, 86, of Fort Collins, died peacefully February 14, 2012 at her home, with her loving family at her bedside. Her devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was well-timed with her passing on Valentine's Day. Mary was born August 31, 1925 in Denver, Colorado to Francis and Emily Palrang McCord. Mary met Willis Lewis "Slim" Somervell, Jr. Retired Capt. USN in Monterey, California. They married in Kerrville, TX on July 25, 1949, and received an Apostolic Blessing from Pope John Paul II in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary in 1999. Mrs. Somervell was a registered nurse, wanting to begin her career by the ocean in Monterey, California, and then followed Slim's naval career moves to Virginia, Norway, California and Japan. Mary received her B.S. from University of Colorado, Boulder, and completed her Nurse Practitioner degree from Brigham Young University. Upon Slim's retirement from the Navy in 1970, the family moved first to Boulder, Colorado, and in 1972 settled in Rist Canyon in Bellvue for 30 years before moving to Fort Collins in 2003. Mary worked as a clinical nurse specialist at the Colorado State University Health Services Center, and enjoyed her work both in the clinic and at the CSU Forestry camp at Pingree Park. Among her passions were flower arrangements, her plants, cooking, tending her ranch animals and garden in Rist Canyon, supporting Slim's active involvement in the Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department and local Republican Party politics. Her organizations included Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and the Retired Officers Association. The Somervells are members of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Mary lived with Parkinson's disease among her ailments and endured many years of chronic pain. She did not complain but offered up her suffering to Our Lord on the Cross. This dear lady's greatest pleasures were praying for those in need, which included traveling around the world on holy pilgrimages, feeding the wild birds outside her home windows, and especially spending time with her beloved husband and devoted family. Survivors include her loving husband, Willis Lewis Somervell, Jr.; son, Willis Lewis "Bill" Somervell, V of San Diego, California; daughters, Mary Cathleen David Wilson of Fort Collins, Frances Somervell Johnson of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Maureen Patricia Somervell-Bath of Fort Collins, Joann Louise James Hards of Durango, Colorado; and thirteen grandchildren, Holly John Johnson, Mary Wilson, Katherine Peter Leininger, Kevin Johnson, Christine Drew Cole, Willis Somervell VI, Joseph Somervell, Roger Somervell-Bath, Michael Kelsey Somervell-Bath, Joseph Somervell-Bath, Chadwick Hards, Heather Hards and James Hards; three great-grandchildren, Jack Leininger, Ezekiel Somervell-Bath and Jax Johnson; and sister-in-law, Harriett Somervell Peters of Abingdon, Virginia. Her four-legged friends include Ralphie and Hank. Preceding Mary in death are her parents, Francis and Emily; and a baby boy. A Rosary will be held Thursday February 16, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at Bohlender Funeral Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, on Friday, February 17, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. Interment will follow at Grandview Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive St., Ft. Collins, CO 80524.