Greetings, mission friends.
Thank you for all your loving thoughts and prayers. Below is my mother’s obituary and memorial service information. In preparing for her service, I am reminded of many happy times spend with you and your families over the years. We have indeed been blessed! Sue Lorimer
Mary Louise Lorimer, 93, died Sunday, May 7, 2017 at Monte Vista Grove Homes in Pasadena, California after a lengthy struggle with dementia. Mary Lou was born on May 1, 1923 in Salem, Ohio, the eldest child of the late Reverend Howard Donald McCalmont and Eva Louise Sebring McCalmont.
Mary Lou spent her childhood in the northeastern United States where her father served as a Presbyterian Pastor in several churches. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. Upon graduation, she volunteered to serve as a short term missionary in wherever the Presbyterian Church most needed volunteers. She was assigned to Assuit, Egypt as an English teacher where she met fellow short termer and future husband John Graham Lorimer. Following their volunteer work, Jack and Mary Lou returned to the United States where they were married in 1948. In 1952, after Jack’s graduation from Pittsburgh-Xenia Seminary, the couple was assigned to Egypt as career missionaries. The Lorimers returned to New York City from 1956 to 1959 where Jack attended Columbia University and received his Masters Degree in Arabic. During that time, they adopted two daughters, Susan Louise and Kathryn Ann. The Lorimer family then returned to Egypt where Jack, supported by Mary Lou, received a series of assignments over the years in El Minya and Cairo. Throughout the Lorimers’ time in Egypt, Mary Lou was a loyal supporter of her husband and daughters and a gracious and enthusiastic hostess to numerous Egyptian, American, and European mission friends. She was respected and loved for creating a welcoming home away from home for many first time Presbyterian volunteers and missionaries to Egypt. She volunteered in both the Schutz American School and Cairo Evangelical Seminary libraries and supervised many Lorimer residence moves in Egypt and during US furloughs, making sure her family had everything they needed to continue their busy lives.
Jack and Mary Lou returned to the United States in 1990 to retire first in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania and then in Pasadena, California. During their retirement years they engaged in multiple volunteer opportunities, both maintaining long time friendships and enjoying new ones. In recent years, as Mary Lou suffered with dementia, she continued to bless caretakers, family, and friends with her wonderful smile and spirit.
Preceding her in death are her daughter Kathy Lorimer, husband Jack Lorimer, brother David McCalmont, and sister Freddie McCalmont Carlson. Surviving are her daughter Sue Lorimer and son-in-law Bob Bruns.
A celebration of Mary Lou’s life will be held on Friday, June 16, 2017 at 2:00 pm in Marwick Place at Monte Vista Grove Homes, 2889 San Pasqual Street, Pasadena, California, 91107 with the Reverend Tom Erickson officiating.