Mary E. Croney

Mary E. McVeigh Croney, age 87, of Pocatello, passed away June 26, 2013 in Pocatello, Idaho.

She was born October 4, 1925 in Pittsburgh, PA, daughter of Robert M. and Sarah Richards McVeigh. She graduated from Edgewood's Preparatory High School in 1944 and entered nurses' training at St. Luke's Hospital in Boise during WWII.

On October 4, 1945, she married Kenneth A. Croney of Bancroft, an Army Air Corp serviceman who had spent 3.5 years in the South Pacific fighting the Japanese. Mary often said of her marriage, "Oh, what a love story that was!" They were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple, October 4, 1950.

The couple lived in Salt Lake City before moving to Hawaii where Ken was employed by Pan American Airlines as Chief Communications Officer. Later, they returned to Utah where Ken graduated from the U. of U. with a degree in electrical engineering.

Ken and Mary later moved to New Jersey where they spent 22 years before settling in Seattle and finally Pocatello. Both were active in the LDS Church all their lives. Mary's callings were as a ward and then a stake Relief Society president for 14 consecutive years, as well as Young Women's president, teaching adults, and serving in two genealogy libraries. Most recently she helped provide weekly programs for residents of Highland Hills Assisted Living Center. She had one of her lively lessons scheduled to be given the day following her death.

Both she and Ken served in the Seattle Temple, as well as a leadership mission in Ohio (1986-87)

Both had a wonderful sense of humor, and it's lucky because, as an example, Mary was notorious for messing up her checkbook. She was NOT a mathematician. Ken would have to straighten things out time after time, always shaking his head and saying, "Mary, Mary... ..".

While living in Colts Neck, New Jersey, Mary had the joy of singing in a Church women's chorus at the N.Y. World's Fair, as well as at the Mother of the Year luncheon in N.Y. City.

An avid reader, Mary read hundreds and hundreds of books over her lifetime. She enjoyed crocheting and won first prize for a tablecloth in the New Jersey State Fair. She loved classic films and working crossword puzzles every day. Her passion, however, was traveling, and she reached her goal of visiting all 50 States and all 7 continents in 2006. Many of the trips she took were with her sister, Nancy, and husband, Dean.

She was the author of three published books: Wait 'Til Harvest (which won the seal of the Idaho Centennial Commission), Sojourn, and Etta's Story.

Mary was the mother of a son and daughter, Daniel and Sarah, and grandmother to four grandchildren (Paige, Lauren, Jameson and Dylan), and two great-grandchildren (Camron and Colin).

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, and husband, and is survived by a sister, Nancy Hoch (Dean) of Pocatello.

Services will be held Monday, July 1 at 11 a.m. at Highland 5th Ward Chapel, (2300 Butte), Pocatello, with Bishop Ted Stratford officiating. The family will welcome guests one hour prior to the memorial service at the church. Interment will be at 3:00 p.m. at Bancroft Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Manning-Wheatley Funeral Chapel.