Mary Duryea

Mary Ellen (Huffman) Duryea passed away February 10, 2025, at the age of 95 in Broken Bow, Nebraska. Mary truly knew that it was more blessed to give than to receive. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother, and a beautiful soul. She was always great to converse with and she lived life to the fullest and she especially loved spending time with her family, friends and pets.

Mary was born to Marion and Maude Huffman in Mason City, Nebraska on February 26, 1929. Mary had three brothers, Edmund, Bill, and Gerald and one sister, Mabel.

Mary spent her early childhood near Arthur, then Swan Lake in Cherry County, and at the Dumbell Ranch near Hyannis. At the age of twelve her family moved to the Lovelace place near Koshophah Nebraska. Mary graduated from high school in Dunning Nebraska. In high school she met her future husband Rex Duryea who served with the marines in World War II and after returning they married on August 25, 1945.

Her husband Rex worked for the Burlington Railroad for 32 years which required a lot of moving, including Billings, Montana, Aurora, Nebraska, Sheridan, Wyoming, Chicago, Illinois, and Anselmo, Nebraska. Mary always made sure the family adapted to the move and always developed friendships wherever she lived. After retirement, Rex and Mary moved to Halsey and later Broken Bow, Nebraska.

Mary is survived by her son Marion “Bud” Duryea (Cathy) of Alamogordo, New Mexico; son Kelly (Jodeen) of Billings, Montana, sister-in-law Fern Huffman, eight grandchildren; Jon (Randy), Guy, and Kim (David), Desire’ and Rick, Tiffanie (Jody), Jason (Meghan), and Brandon (Nicole); thirteen great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

 Mary was preceded in death by her husband Rex Duryea, her daughter Kitty Duryea Holloway, her parents Marion and Maude Huffman, her brothers Edmund (Vesta) Huffman, Bill (Odetta) Huffman, and Gerald Huffman, her sister Mabel Rodocker (Keith).

Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 17, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Govier Brothers Chapel in Broken Bow, NE. Burial will be on Tuesday, February 18th, at 11:00 AM in the Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, NE. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to Brookestone View in memory of Mary Duryea. Govier Brothers Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.govierbrothers.com