Mary E. Solomon

Mary Edith Pumphrey Solomon, known as “Edie” passed away peacefully on Friday, August 12th, 2022.

Edie was born in Boulder, Colorado in 1925.  At age 5, her family moved to Lyman, NE to raise sugar beets, hogs, and sheep.  As a young girl, Edie helped to run the family farm, and in school she was involved in music, speech,  drama, 4-h and public speaking.   She was a top-notch student and at the age of 16 she entered college at UNL Lincoln with a 4 year full ride academic scholarship.

During her college years Edie was a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, Phi Upsilon Omicron, Phi Beta Kappa, and Mortar Board.  She received the Pillsbury award given to the top academic student at UNL. She served as Student Council President for 2 years and was instrumental in overseeing equal and fair housing for all UNL athletic participants and the returning WWII GI’s.  She met Eugene, “Gene” Solomon, a WWII veteran, during her senior year of college and they were married in 1947.   Gene had several Nebraska assignments working for the Soil Conservation Service before settling in Blair, NE.

Edie started her teaching career when all four children were school age. She taught home economics for 2 years in Herman and then 34 years at Blair High School.  She taught Sunday school for 40 years, was an Active PEO member and 4-H leader. After “retirement”, Edie volunteered at the Blair Middle and High School, assisting in the library and home economic classes and making costumes for the school musicals.   Edie received numerous awards and recognitions for her years as a teacher and volunteer. Her enthusiasm, humor and love of teaching helped to guide hundreds of students in a positive direction.   Numerous camping vacations in the Snowy Range, wonderful summers at the family cabin, playing cards and games with her children’s friends were always filled love, laughter and fun. The hundreds of comments and eulogies to Edie on the Blair Alumni Website described her as kind, compassionate, patient, caring, fun, loving, sweet, generous, humble, a true treasure, vivacious, gracious, and  one-of- a- kind.  She was loved by so many and will be greatly missed by countless friends, students, and family

Edie is survived by her four children and spouses: Cliff Solomon (Pam Gates), Carol Solomon-Smith (Rex Everett), Carrie Solomon-Schultz (Dan Schultz), Christine Solomon (Charles Hineline); nephews Ryan Smith (Michaela) and their children Asher, William and Adeline and Craig Smith; nieces Carissa Schultz (Kirk Morales)  and their children Arlo and Roman, and Katrina Schultz-Baldwin (Anthony Baldwin) and their daughter, Vienna; Genes remaining brother, James Solomon.

A celebration of her life will be held at 10:30 A.M on Saturday, November 5th at the Blair United Church.