Mary Mcvay

Mary McVay, 94, of Sutherland, died Thursday, February 13, 2020, at the Sutherland Care Center.

Mary was born May 10, 1925, to Patrick and Isabella Priel at Sutherland where she grew up. By her junior year, the family moved to Kearney where Mary finished her schooling, graduating from Kearney High School in 1944. She then went to work for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company and later married Wesley Van Vleet, Jr. in Kearney.

In 1958 Wesley and Mary moved to Sutherland and bought the Longhorn Bar. A few years later they sold the bar and divorced. She married Bob Bryant in ’62. After Bob died, Mary married Robert McVay.

Mary continued to own several business in town which included the Deluxe Cafe, Rodeo Bar and Conoco Cafe, and eventually started the Sutherland Senior Center. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Mary is survived by her children, Morris (Ruth Ann) Van Vleet, of Kearney, Ray (Laura) Bryant, of Mitchell, SD, Clyde (Sheri) Bryant, of Ogallala, Virginia Fear and Annette (Larry) Kennedy, of Sutherland; grandchildren, Kelli Van Vleet-Pleskac (Aaron), Kyle (Melanie) Van Vleet, Marlo Roberts, Candace (Andy) Scott, Marty Fear, Sean (Adrienne) Kennedy, Sarah (Ben) Rivera and Makenna Bryant; 11 great-grandchildren and a great great-grandson; sister-in-law, Betty Priel, of North Platte; brother-in-law, Don Fleecs, of Sutherland; as well as many other family members.

Along with her husband, Bob Bryant, Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Patrick and Isabella Priel; son, Ken Van Vleet; daughter, Patricia Van Vleet Greene; sister, Peggy Fleecs; brother Leonard ‘Bud’ Priel; and granddaughters, Katie Kennedy and Summer Greene.

Services will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sutherland. Rosary will be 7 p.m. Monday, February 17, and Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, February 18, 2020, with Celebrant Father Sagar. Burial will follow in Riverview Cemetery, south of Sutherland. Visitation will be prior to the services at the church. Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to the Sutherland American Legion Auxiliary. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.