Nora Marie Jarvis was born in Illinois to Joseph Warren Jarvis and Bertha Spring Houdeshell Jarvis. She married the love of her life, Herbert Arthur Neufeld, on August 28, 1945 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. They had 5 children together, the first one, Sandra Marie, was premature and lived little more than a month. "Mother Marie" was also a loving and devoted step-mother to Herb's five children from his first marriage. Their love for her remains to this day. One step-son, Gerald Dean, has since joined them with the angels.

Tragically, Herb was murdered in 1958 in New Mexico. Marie was left to raise their four surviving children and she would be separated from the other 5 for many, many years. She married Paul Cole, Jr. in 1960. It would prove to be an abusive and unhappy marriage but Marie never left him. Through all of Marie's tough times, she kept her gentle and sweet nature and I never heard her say anything bad about another person.

Marie was diagnosed with cancer in March, 2000. It had already progressed to the degree that there was nothing that could be done for her except try to control the pain. She was given no more than two weeks to live. Her family was so precious to her and 8 of her 9 children would gather at her house for the dual purpose of giving her the joy of seeing her children along with many of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as to tell her of her diagnosis.

Mother Marie was a tiny woman but it covered an underlying strength. She would live two weeks beyond the two that she was given. In that time of pain, her gentleness and grace remained. She did not complain, she smiled when she could and she thanked the nurses and aides before they left her room. She joined the angels and was reunited with her dearest love and Heaven is a sweeter place for her presence.