Mary Idell Berrong

Mary Idell Harkins Berrong
Teacher & World Traveler

Mary Harkins Berrong of Fort Collins (formerly of Boulder) passed away peacefully on her 100th birthday in Fort Collins, CO at Collinwood Assisted Care. She was in the care of and surrounded by her family at the time of her passing.

Mary was born August 12, 1914 to Roy B. Harkins and Bessie (Moulton) Harkins at Grimes, Oklahoma. She graduated from Sayre High School in 1931, Southwestern State University in 1934 (B.A.), and Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville in 1951 (M.A.). She continued her university studies at the University of Colorado, Pittsburgh University, and Colorado School of Mines. She was a retired teacher whose assignments ranged from third grade through graduate programs at both Oklahoma University and Southwestern State University. She taught 14 years in Oklahoma and 26 years in the Boulder Valley Schools. She taught at both Foothills Elementary and Centennial in Boulder and completed her career at Broomfield Junior High.

She was quite active professionally during her 40 years of teaching. She organized science teachers in both Oklahoma and Colorado and published local, state, and national articles. As well as writing study courses, she conducted science workshops in five states. She was a frequent speaker on local, state, and national levels. She was pleased to have the experiences of speaking on radio, appearing on television, and assisting with the Helpmobile as a demonstration teacher. In addition to six teacher and science organizations, she enjoyed membership in Kappa Kappa Iota, Kappa Delta Pi, and Delta Kappa Gamma.

Following retirement, her major interest turned to travel – world travel. She was a member of Traveler's Century Club (a minimum of 100 countries visited for membership). At the time of her death, she'd logged in 140 countries. Her other interests included the care of her Martin Acres home, her numerous flower gardens, block parties, and delight in educational day trips about Colorado. She was also active in the organizations of AARP, WmWa, BVRT, and Senior Singles.
She married J. Everett Berrong on Christmas Day, 1934 and moved to Boulder in 1953 from Weatherford, OK with their two sons, Bert (Vera) of Brighton & Godly, TX and Nik (JoAnn) of Fort Collins. She had three grandchildren – Michele (Douglas) of Rohnert Park, CA, Brett (Kiersten) of Fort Collins, and Stacy (Jeanette) of Woodland, CA. She also enjoyed the presence of five great-grandchildren. Her husband passed away September 22, 1982 while on a Canadian vacation. At her request, cremation took place and her family scattered her ashes with her husband's in the Rocky Mountains.

The forgoing is, largely, honoring our mother's wish to publish "the facts, just the facts" for her eventual obituary. Now that she's departed this phase of life, her sons will provide their addendum: Our mother didn't surprise us with her passing exactly on her 100th birthday, since we knew well of her punctual and ever-organizing style. We believe her agenda-driven lifestyle contained an element of pleading with her Maker to have her exit coincide with her entry, 100 years later. Apparently, she was successful in her bidding.

This wonderful woman, always a staunch defender of her family and the needy, often characterized herself as not knowing how to "play well with others". Quite the contrary, she routinely "played well" with many others, but normally on a mentoring and sharing basis. Numerous acquaintances, both professional and casual, have attested to that. This world traveler experienced the fjords of Norway, wandered among the penguins of the Antarctic, camped for four weeks with retired oil geologists in the Great Rift Valley, enjoyed a one-of-a-kind World War II memory cruise in the Pacific with veterans, accompanied her granddaughter on a round the world Semester at Sea cruise (a student at 68), and flew in a competition aerobatic plane with her older son. All-in-all, she gave new dimensions to the "Bucket List" and, most of it, while using only one carry-on bag. A sailing vessel cruise of the Mediterranean was her last trip, at age 87. She passed on the carry-on bag to another dreamer. Her last moments of life were bathed in love from her family members who had the blessing of sharing her last moments. Mary Berrong had an enormous impact on us all and her memory will be cherished.

Memorials may be sent to the Salvation Army (her favorite charity) and Pathways Hospice in Fort Collins, CO. The family gives special thanks to the compassionate and high quality care of the staff at Collinwood Assisted Living, her dear friend, John Merritt, of Home Instead, the staff of Centre Avenue Health & Rehab, and those from Pathways Hospice.