After a long and courageous battle with cancer Mary Corah passed away at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City on September 18,2023. Mary was born in Grafton, North Dakota on September 29, 1944 to Ed and Marie (Mamie) Gudajtes. …. the second of their four children.
After graduating from Minto High School Mary attended North Dakota State University before entering a long career in the world of finance……. retiring after spending many years as the manager of the Kansas Farm Bureau Credit Union….and yes, she never could figure out why some people could not balance a checking account.
On October 24th, 1964 she married Larry Corah at the St Stanislaus Catholic church in Warsaw, North Dakota. Mary became very adept at moving as in their first 9 years of married life she lived in 12 different houses/apartments in 6 different states and two different countries…. never once asking the obvious question “why are we doing this” because she recognized these were valued career moves for Larry. …. finally in 1974 they settled in their long-time home in Manhattan, Kansas.
Mary had many interests……she never passed a quilt shop without stopping which resulted in 100’s of beautiful quilts either given to family or charity…. there never seemed to be a quilt organization or quilt retreat that didn’t attract her interest. Early in married she was an active bowler and frequently joined Welcome Wagon when a move brought her to a new town.
Doing volunteer work was important part of her life……for many years she worked weekly at the Seven Dolors Catholic Budget Shop, was active in numerous church organizations as she and Larry were long time members of the St Thomas More Catholic Church…..she served many years on the school board for the Manhattan Catholic school……and we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention she never found a bridge game of cards not worthy of playing ……frequently spending many an afternoon during retirement years…..she also enjoyed a good K-State football game or a KSU Women’s basketball game.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, brother James, sisters-in-law Kathy and Susan Gudajtes, brother-in-law Paul Gourde and grandson Jack Estes.
Survivors include her husband Larry of nearly 59 years, four children daughter Michelle (Derek) Estes, Tom (Sally), Chad (Becca) and Mark……six grandchildren Luke. Morgan, Kaden, Madison, Tucker and Payton (Ward). She is also survived by sister Marge Gourde and brother John Gudajtes and numerous nieces and nephews.
The evening wake(visitation) will be held at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home in Manhattan on Sunday evening October 8th from 5:30-7 p.m. with a rosary and a short celebration of life starting at 7 p.m.. Funeral will be held at 12:00 p.m. on October 9th at the St Thomas More Catholic Church, 2900 Kimball Avenue in Manhattan.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Manhattan Catholic School or the Seven Dolors Budget shop and mailed to Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.