Mary Nibarger

Mary Lou Nibarger was born on September 9, 1938, in Hartford City, Indiana, to Le Roy and Bernice Lucinda (Goodyear) Blumenhorst.

If you knew Mary, you probably loved her.

Mary married Richard “Dick” Nibarger in 1973, and together they shared 45 years of marriage. She embraced Dick’s five children as her own and helped raise them alongside the two children they welcomed together.

Mary had a gift for making people feel welcome. She listened without judgment, genuinely cared about others, and always made time for the people in her life.

Mary was happiest at home, where she could prepare meals, share stories, and spend time with family and friends. Her grandchildren knew Grandma’s closet was often stocked with snack cakes and treats waiting to be discovered, and nobody ever left her house hungry.

Those who knew Mary best will remember her steady presence, quiet sense of humor, and mischievous smile. She often listened more than she spoke, but when she did speak, her timing was perfect. Beneath her gentle nature was a playful streak that could catch people by surprise and leave everyone laughing.

While her family will miss her deeply, they find comfort in knowing she has been reunited with loved ones who have gone before her and is now at peace with the Lord.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Richard “Dick” Nibarger; her parents, Le Roy and Bernice Lucinda (Goodyear) Blumenhorst; her sisters, Shirley and Betty; and her brothers, Le Roy Junior, Robert “Bob,” and Carl Blumenhorst.

She is survived by her children, Connie, Rick, Carolynn, Deanna, Steve, Doug, and Beverly; 15 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; her brother, Jim Blumenhorst (Carolyn); her beloved neighbors and friends, Greg and Angie Cart; and numerous extended family members and friends.

Calling hours will be held Thursday, June 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Williamson-Spencer and Penrod Funeral Home in Portland, followed by funeral services at 1 p.m. Burial will follow at IOOF Twin Hills Cemetery in Pennville.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff of The Waters of Dunkirk and SouthernCare Hospice for their compassion, kindness, and support.

Her legacy lives on in the family she helped raise, the memories shared around her table, and the kindness she showed to everyone fortunate enough to know her.