Honorable Mary Amelia Bomar

Mary Amelia Bomar was called to the Lord on August 28, 2022, joining wonderful family and friends. She was surrounded by her loving family in San Antonio, Texas. Mary was born on June 30, 1944, in Birmingham, England to her loving parents, John and Doreen Burns. She was the second eldest of six children (four brothers - Michael, David, John and Robert and sister - Susan).

Mary was married to the love of her life, husband Milton Travis Bomar, on February 3, 1962, and they shared over 60 years together. She always called Milton her Missouri Man, and he is a proud American who served his country, loved his family and his religion.

Mary and Milton have three children whom she loved dearly and was so proud of them for being such devoted and model parents. Daughter Donna Susan Koch and husband Kelvin; two married sons, John Vernon and wife Theresa; and their youngest son, David Earl Bomar and wife Christina. They have seven wonderful grandchildren who brought enormous joy to both Nana and Granddad over the years. Eldest granddaughter Kaeleigh Marie and husband Matthew Minzenmeyer, Kandice Koch, Alexandra Bomar with brother David M. Bomar, Cassandra Bomar, Amanda Bomar and husband Ricky Macias, and brother Robert Bomar. They also have four great grandchildren whom Nana and Granddad adore - Amelia Rose, Henry Jackson, Hudson Reed and Cody Weston Minzenmeyer.

The Honorable Mary Amelia Bomar, Former Director of the National Park Service, was nominated by President George W. Bush and Senate confirmed as the 17th Director of the National Park Service in August 2005. She was the first naturalized citizen to head up America’s National Parks. She was honored and felt privileged to lead a team of over 20,000 employees and over 140,000 volunteers in administering almost 400 national park units and related cultural and natural heritage programs. During her tenure as the Director, the parks welcomed more than 300 million visitors annually.

Director Bomar often quoted, “There are special places that unite us all as Americans and national parks are those places. They are treasures of America - from iconic parks like Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Independence, Thomas Edison NHP, Brookline, the home of John F. Kennedy and Gettysburg to places like the National Mall in Washington DC, Rosie the Riveter and the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park - our national parks truly reflect the soul of America.”

Director Bomar was raised in England but spent five years living in the United States as a young girl. She felt blessed to be raised by a father who loved to travel. While living in the United States, they visited the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, Golden Gate, Mount Rushmore and many other national parks. She also lived in Chicago for a time and traveled the Mother Road of America - Route 66, to California with her parents on a great American road trip. This was such an exciting time in her life as a young girl.

Mary shared the following two very personal experiences that she would never forget. The first one being that as a young girl, she and her family sailed from Southampton, England into New York Harbor on the ship, Ille de France. She recalled seeing a Lady rise from the water - the Statue of Liberty. How ironic that her first glimpse of American was of a national park site. Never did she think that one day she would have a role in the stewardship of caring for this very important national park site.

Secondly, Mary was quoted in many articles saying “I am proud to call myself “An American by Choice”. I took the Oath of Allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America on October 28, 1977 in Spokane, Washington. It was a very proud moment in my life and that of my family. On that day, I was given a letter from then-President Jimmy Carter. It stated that my citizenship gave me the right, and also the responsibility, to take part in the business of our government.”

Little did she know then that one day she would be entrusted with places like the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Rocky Mountain National Park, and the home of the man who signed that letter to her in 1977 and that they would meet during her tenure as Director in his hometown.

Mary was a devout Catholic and proud to be a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in San Antonio, Texas. She praised Monsignor Conor McGraff for his devotion to his religion, church, congregation and community.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents and her brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Sandra Burns and sister-in-law, Viola Thacker. She is survived by her husband, Milton Bomar, children Donna and husband Kelvin Koch, John and wife Theresa Bomar, and David and wife Christina Bomar; grandchildren Kaeleigh and husband Matthew Minzenmeyer, Kandice Koch, Alexandra Bomar, David M. Bomar, Cassandra Bomar, Amanda and husband Ricky Macias, Robert Bomar; great-grandchildren Amelia Rose, Henry Jackson, Hudson Reed and Cody Weston Minzenmeyer; brother David and wife Sandra, brother Robert and wife Christina Burns, sister Susan and husband Pargy O’Gorman; and many loving nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank the National Park Service for their compassion during this very difficult time and their recognition that honors Mary’s contributions to the National Park Service.

We also wish to thank all of our family and friends, especially the “bookies” whom Mary loved dearly, for their generous support and love.

The family will receive friends from 9:00 am to 10:00 am, on Thursday, September 8, 2022, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church.

FUNERAL SERVICETHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 202210:00 AMST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON CATHOLIC CHURCH8500 CROSS MOUNTAIN TRAILSAN ANTONIO, TX 78255

Please click here to view the live stream of Mary's service.

Father Connor to officiate. Interment to follow at Mission Burial Park North.