Mable Charlotte Mann

MABLE CHARLOTTE MANN, 94 After a long life of unconditional love, hugs and laughter, Mable Charlotte Mann died peacefully of natural causes Sept. 26. All who knew her will miss her tremendously, remembering her kind, sweet nature and strong spirit. Mable was born Feb. 8, 1909, in Chicago, Ill., to Swedish immigrants, William Knute Strand and Anna Wilhelmina Anderson Strand. She grew up with two brothers and a sister on the family farm in Monmouth, Ill. She was married at the farm house to Frederic Byron Mann on Oct 7, 1936. As an Army officer, Fred Mann led his wife on a life of travel. The couple had a son, James F. Mann, and a daughter, Lynette, before Fred was called to active duty. Fred served as a colonel in the Pacific during World War II, the post World War II Occupation Army in Europe and the Korean War. When Fred “The Colonel”, as he was known, was part of the occupational army in Europe, the couple had a second daughter, Cynthia, in Munich, Germany. Over time, military life took the Manns to different homes in California, Minnesota, Indiana, New Mexico, and finally, Austin, Texas. Mable was a woman of subtle contrasts, going back to her youth. She was an adventurous person who reveled in riding horses bareback on the family farm. Yet, she was formal; at one point she taught elocution to young ladies. By most accounts, she was a sorry sewer, but a dandy cook, specializing in candies and sweets. She was proper, wearing dresses through most of her life, but she took up pants and bowling in her 50s, and was avid for the sport. She was also a shrewd bridge player. Mable was raised hand-in-hand with the Lutheran Church, and carried a strong faith in God through life’s joys and adversities. As a military wife, she was proud, patient and persevering, often having to be the family’s nurturer and disciplinarian while her husband was away. Even when the Colonel was home, Mable exerted a strong, quiet influence over the family. She was very observant. She didn’t interfere unless she felt it was necessary, recalls her daughter, Lynette McCrary. But she always knew what was going on, even when we thought she didn’t ... When mother felt strongly about something, she spoke strongly. And there were times when my father capitulated. She was a very righteous person. But at the same time, Mable had an enormous sense of humor. She had a penchant for saying funny little things at just the right time. She laughed easily, she cried easily. She loved very deeply, recalls Lynette. She survived things that other people didn’t back then, recalls her daughter, Cindy Lind. Mable overcame thyroid cancer when she was 45. In her latter years, she survived multiple surgeries and ailments. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease when she was 75. ”She was not one to dismiss this life easily, she was a fighter,” Cindy said. Her grandson, Jefferson Lind, remembers Mable as an enthusiastic person when it came to her grandchildren. She would get so excited when she would see us, he said. It would be just a little over the top ... she would almost fall out of her chair. Her granddaughter, Shannon Lind remembers that Mable never wanted her family to leave. “She would walk us to the car and stand there waiving and blowing us kisses until we were out of sight.” Her greatest gift was an uncanny, ever-present, unconditional love for her family. It set a powerful tone for the entire family, and was handed down through her children to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Mable was preceded in death by her husband, who died in 1972 in Austin, Texas; her beloved ”sonny boy,” James F. Mann, who died March 3, 1992, in Missoula, Mont.; her sister, Irene May, and her brothers, Harold William Strand and Elmer Robert Strand. She is survived by her daughters, Cynthia Jean Lind, and her husband Clifton Lind of Austin; Lynette Irene McCrary, and her husband, Keith McCrary, of Maui, Hawaii; her daughter-in-law, Susan Marie Mann of Tucson, Ariz.; grandchildren, James F. Mann Jr., of Kalispell, Mont.; Corbett Douglas Mann, of Darby, Mont.; Shannon Lind, of Dallas; Jefferson Lind, of Austin; Lane Gerrard, of Honolulu, Hawaii; and Timothy McCrary, of Weed, California She is also survived by many great grandchildren: Cassidy Rose, Orion James and Samuel Reid Mann of Kalispell, Mont.; Corbett Douglas Jr. and Sabrina Elisabeth Mann of Darby, Mont.; and Jefferson Clifton Lind of Austin. Mable’s family extends the deepest thanks and gratitude to Grace House of Lake Travis, where she received tremendous love and care in the final two years of her life. The family will receive friends on Monday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Weed Corley-Fish which is located at 3125 North Lamar. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, September 30 at 1:30 p.m. at Mable’s long-time church, First English Lutheran Church of Austin, with Pastor Robert Karli presiding. Interment will follow at Capital Memorial Park in Pflugerville. Memorial contributions may be made to First English Lutheran Church, 3001 Whitis Ave., Austin, TX 78705. Mable’s family is confident she is at peace with loved ones who passed on before her. Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar, Austin, TX 78705 (512) 452-8811. You may view memorials online at www.wcfish.com.