Mary Lea Standlea

Mary Lea Standlea died October 26, 2013 at Medicalodge, Clay Center Ks at the age of 85. She was born on December 31, 1927 in Thomas County near Norway NE, the daughter of Cornelius and Mary Elizabeth (Wyatt) Boren. Mary Lea was known as Monkey Doodle by her father when she was a little girl, and as she grew her nieces and nephews knew her as Aunt Monkie; and she was Mom and Grandma to everyone. Mary was raised in Nebraska and graduated from Halsey High School in 1945. She was valedictorian of her class. On January 4, 1946 she married the love of her life, Alvin Standlea in Broken Bow NE. She was always considered the protector of her siblings and friends, and vowed to be famous one day. Alvin and Mary Lea made their home in Nebraska, Wyoming and Washington. Mary Lea loved quilting, sewing, cooking, gardening, canning and spending lots of time with her family and friends. Aunt Monkie learned these talents as a girl and later perfected them as a loving wife and mother. Mary Lea and Alvin enjoyed singing and dancing together. Her biggest claim to ‘fame’ was her homemade bread, cinnamon rolls and pull-a-parts. Anyone who ever ate this, say it was the best bread known to man!! When Monkie wasn’t cooking for the family, she was busy cooking and feeding harvest crews. In her ‘alone time’, which as a mother of 7 children, was high cherished, she enjoyed reading and embroidery. For special treats, they made many gallons of homemade ice cream for her apple pies. Monkie loved babies, she would always call them ‘lil pigeons’; which has been carried on to the youngest of generations. She would hold and calm a fussy baby like no other, all while being wrapped up in a baby quilt that was made with love by the hands Monkie. She would sing and rock them endlessly, loving every minute of it. After the passing of her beloved husband in 1980, Mary Lea, Kelly and Britt moved back to Nebraska to be closer to family. Her later years were spent in Clay Center Kansas. She is preceded in death and welcomed into heaven by her husband Alvin, one daughter Vicky Standlea, four sons Theodore (Ted), Robert (Bob), William (Bill) and Timothy (Tim), two brothers Robert and Jamie Boren, three sisters Minnie Trough, Luerella McHugh and Bess Christen. Leaving to cherish her memories and carry on her loving legacy are her two youngest sons, Kelly and wife Sheila Standlea of Grand Island NE, Britton and wife Eva Standlea of Clay Center KS, a sister Virginia ‘Ginny’ Sullivan of Mullen NE, and a brother Theodore ‘Jess’ Boren of Yuma AZ, 18 grandchildren, many great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, as well as several nieces and nephews. Celebration of Life event will be held on Saturday November 9, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at All Faiths Funeral Home, 2929 S Locust, Grand Island NE. A private family inurnment will be at the Mountain view Cemetery, Connell WA at a later date and time. Memorials can be made to Mary Standlea Memorial fund to be designated later.