Mary L. Derr

May 19, 1917 – October 27, 2010

Mary Louise Derr of Boulder died October 27, 2010, in Boulder. She was 93.

The daughter of Ralph Oscar Van Atta and Jessie Birdsall Sherwood Van Atta, Mary was born May 19, 1917, in Binghamton, New York. She married Vernon Ellsworth Derr on March 6, 1943 in Binghamton.

After Mary’s 1940 graduation from Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia. she worked for a book manufacturing company, Vail Ballou Press, as a proof reader. When World War II began, she became a civilian employee of the U.S. Army Signal Corps.

It was at Arlington Hall Station in Virginia that she met Vernon, an Army 2nd Lieutenant. “Yours is a war marriage,” a woman told Mary. “It will never last.” The marriage lasted 60 years, until Vernon’s death on July 24, 2003.

Mary played the violin in university and community orchestras. During the 1960’s, while the family lived in Florida, she also sang in theatrical productions, including The Music Man, and several Gilbert and Sullivan operettas.

When the family moved to Boulder in 1967, Mary played in the Timberline Symphony. She was member of the Boulder Writers Club and League of Women Voters. She sang in community choirs.

Mary was a feature writer for Town & Country Review and a freelance writer. She wrote four books (unpublished) and many children’s stories. She was an associate editor of The Weaver’s Journal.

Mary is survived by a son, Michael Edward Derr of Broomfield, a daughter, Carol Jean Derr MacBride of Denver, a grandson, David Vernon Derr, and two great grandchildren.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband Vernon and three daughters, Nancy Derr, Katherine Mary Derr Herrmann and Louise Edith Derr.

Mary readily attracted friends and was much loved by all. She will be greatly missed by her family and all who knew her.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, Nov. 5th at Frasier Meadows Retirement Community, 350 Ponca Place, Boulder. The Rev. Mary Kate Réjouis of St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church will officiate.

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