Mary Louise Roberts

Her youthful spirit and gleeful, childlike fondness of nature’s simple beauty never waned throughout nearly a century of life. Butterflies and hummingbirds figured prominently. Mary Louise Roberts, 95, of Loveland, Colorado, died peacefully the morning of July 26, 2024.

Mary Louise was born June 14, 1929 in her grandfather’s house in Hanover, Pennsylvania to parents Ira and Ada Markle who always had a joke to tell and a delicious old family recipe cooking to lighten up the room and keep everyone happy. Mary Louise proud grandfather rewarded her with a silver dollar when she learned to walk into his arms at 9 months. She had one younger brother, Donald (deceased). Eventually the family moved to Silver Spring, Maryland where her father found his trade as a carpenter. Mary Louise always had a profound appreciation of nature so it was no surprise she was actively involved in Girl Scouts as a young girl. She graduated from Blair High School in 1947 and then went to work as a typist for the US government in Washington DC.

In the fall of 1948, Mary Louise met her life partner Jim Roberts at a square dance. They were married in September of 1950 in a formal wedding at the United Methodist Church in Silver Spring Maryland and celebrated 63 years together before Jim passed away in 2012. The young couple bought one side of a double house in Wheaton, Maryland where they lived for 8 years, and had 3 children, James Jr, Rebecca and Douglas. In 1958, they moved to a rural Silver Spring home on 2 acres where they had one more child, Susan. In 1960, Mary Louise husband Jim’s daughter Ginger, from a prior marriage, came to live with them. Eventually, Jim’s career at IBM, offered a transfers first to Poughkeepsie, NY where they lived for 3 years, then another transfer in 1966 west to Longmont, Colorado. During these years in New York and Colorado, the family enjoyed many short excursions as well as long driving vacations which included much camping and hiking. They became active members of the National Campers and Hikers Association.

Mary Louise was driven to stay active. In addition to supporting all her children in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and other school activities, she was involved with clubs where she learned to play bridge and golf as well as joined a bowling league. She was an accomplished seamstress, and did many counted cross stitch projects. She enjoyed photography and kept the family photo album up to date. She also enjoyed gardening and was active in the Hoe and Hope Gardening club. Additionally, she was actively involved in the community with the Longmont Newcomers Club.

On Mary Louise and Jim’s 25th wedding anniversary year, they bought mountain property at Crystal Lakes northwest of Fort Collins, Colorado. They camped on the land for a few years preparing the land to build a house. Then, with much help from family and friends, they built their vacation home and future residence which they named Eagle’s Nest. Shortly after Jim retired from IBM in 1991, they moved into Eagle’s Nest permanently.

While living in the serene setting of Crystal Lakes, Mary Louise stayed no less active. She enjoyed hiking and cross country skiing in the winter. She joined the Crystal Belles women’s group enjoying a variety of social activities and also belonged to the Mountain Gals in nearby Red Feather Lakes, helping with community projects. In addition Mary Louise and Jim were active members of the Red Feathers Morning Star Church and in 2000, renewed their marriage vows to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with most of the family present.

In 2005, the rigors of mountain living and the need for closer proximity to health care convinced them it was time to move from Crystal Lakes down to Loveland, Colorado. Mary Louise promptly joined a bridge group, and was active in several other social activities including the Red Hat Club and Silver Sneakers health and fitness club. When Jim passed away in 2012, Mary Louise managed living mostly by herself in their home for more than 10 additional years. Finally, in 2023, at 94 years old, with her vision impaired by macular degeneration and mobility compromised by arthritis, she elected to sell the home and move into the Brookdale North Assisted Living facility where she lived her final days. Mary Louise is survived by her children Ginger, James Jr, Rebecca, Douglas and Susan as well as 5 grandchildren.