Obituary of Mary Allacher

Mary Katherine (Harrel) Allacher was born on November 20, 1949 to her beloved parents Ralph Neil Harrel and Gertrude Alice Regier, in Cairo, Kansas. She was the third of her five siblings after her two brothers, David and Robert, making her the middle child. On July 25, 1953, Ralph and Gertrude expanded their family with the addition of twins Jerry and Jan. The family of seven lived on a farm in Cairo, Kansas where they grew crops and raised various farm animals. Mary, of course, loved growing up with her favorite horse Topper and her beautiful dog Queenie. Mary and the rest of the gang had many cousins to play with throughout their childhood years providing big holiday get togethers and strong friendships. However, Mary and her family moved a few times; living in Pratt, Kansas, Fort Collins, Colorado and finally settling in Burlington, Colorado. Once the Harrels got settled into Burlington life, Ralph started the Harrel Impliment Company, selling farm equipment. While it took some adjustment, Mary and the rest of her family established new relationships through attending church and school. Mary attended school at Burlington High School and graduated in 1967. She continued upon her education, where she would become an alumna at Fort Hays State University, first majoring in Home Economics and later finding a passion for elementary education. After years pursuing a social life and a college degree, Mary graduated from Fort Hays State in 1971 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. She followed in the footsteps of her mom, Gertrude, and also began teaching young minds in McCook, Nebraska making a solid group of friends. After three years of teaching kindergarten through first grade, Mary moved back to Burlington to teach Kindergarten there for a few years. Unfortunately in the summer of 1974, after a long battle with breast cancer, Gertrude passed away. In the year 1976, Mary got a job offer in Mimmegen, Germany on the Air Force Base teaching Kindergarten and first graders. Little did she know that embarking on this journey would make her a group of her beloved lifelong friends: Jetta, Peggy Z., Bonnie Laura, Donna, Pat, Gloria and Jo. Mary had many fun adventures throughout her two years with them in Germany and she remained in touch with them throughout her life. “Mary girl,” as she was called, and her friends got together for more adventures beyond Germany having a reunion every five years having fun adventures in Canada, Mexico City and Windsor, Colorado. Unfortunately, after two years of adventures in Germany, she returned home to Burlington to help care for her father Ralph- who had lung cancer. Mary and Jan separated their time between the hospital in Denver and Burlington on the weekends helping their brothers run the business. Sadly, Ralph passed away on December 4, 1979. Years after, things began to look up for Mary. She began teaching again in Burlington, and lived in the family home. First teaching fifth grade Language Arts and later returning to Kindergarten. In 1987, she met Ord Allacher on the front porch of her house and inviting him in for a cold glass of iced tea after he had finished mowing the lawn. After two years of dating, Mary and Ord were married. Mary, of course, being an excellent seamstress, sewed her own wedding dress and made her own wedding cake. Mary and Ord’s happy marriage resulted in the birth of a son, Michael Davis Allacher on March 29, 1990. Mary and Ord were enjoying having Michael as their only child until they decided to expand once again. On August 5, 1992, twins Kerrie Rae Allacher and Kristin (Krissy, as they would call her) Kay Allacher were born in Denver, Colorado. The following years to follow were very happy, especially in 2001 when one of Mary’s students offered her a dog. After three weeks of begging on Kerrie’s end, Honey joined the household family of five. The whole household remained happy for the years to come. Tragedy unfortunately hit again, on January 23, 2006, Mary received a call early in the morning telling the news of Ord’s death. Mary was the rock to her children who lost their father at the young ages of 15 and 13. The family rebuilt, with many décor changes including various paint colors and furniture arrangements, Mary and the kids slowly fixed the cracks. Kerrie and Krissy learned to cook delicious food thanks to some help from Mary, and Michael made a great group of friends that are like family. Everything was coming back together. In the summer of 2012, Mary saw her two twin daughters off to college at Fort Hays State University, the same school that she attended. Two days later Mary went to have her gallbladder removed and cancerous tumors were found in her stomach lining and colon. Fortunately, during this tough time Mary found support through her children, other family members and her bible study group. Michael, Kerrie and Krissy were right by her side during this difficult time, taking her to doctor’s appointments, keeping her positive, and by making her cupcakes. Watching her children grow into their own during the last two and a half years is what made Mary the most proud. She got to see Michael become a sweet and excellent diesel mechanic. Mary got to see her twins flourish at college as well-seeing Kerrie and Krissy making the Dean’s Honor Roll several times. She witnessed Kerrie becoming a blossoming artist and interior design major and read Krissy’s English essays that she sometimes didn’t understand but said they were excellent and made notes anyway. Over the year of 2014-2015 Mary’s health began to decline. She fought relentlessly to stay alive for her children. Finally on May 31, 2015, her cancer got sick of fighting this beautiful, strong woman and Mary was accepted into heaven. Mary is preceded in death by her parents Ralph and Gertrude, her beloved husband Ord, her Aunts and Uncles and many of her cousins. She is survived by her three children, Michael, Kerrie and Krissy. She is also survived by her sister Jan and brother Jerry, sister-in-laws Becky and Dorendo, brother-in-law Dan, her many nieces and nephews, and finally many beloved friends.