Mary Elizabeth Abbas

MARY LEVIN ABBAS
Memorial Service
January 3, 2021

Mary Elizabeth Levin Abbas was born on August 26, 1927, in Spring Valley, IL., and went home to be with her Lord on December 16, 2021, in Denver, CO. She was the sixth of nine children. She was preceded in death by her parents, Adolph & Nina Levin, along with all of her siblings- George, Robert, Betty, Bill, Pat, Jimmy, Priscilla and Paul David. Not too many weeks ago, she spoke of looking forward to seeing her Lord, her husband George, and all her family. Mary trusted the Lord as her Savior as a little girl during a church service. She remembered being convicted of her sin and going forward. Her mom followed her down to the front and led her to the Lord.

She loved to tell an account of God's provision that happened when she was a little girl. At breakfast time, Mary's Dad prayed, thanking the Lord for His provision. The problem was, there was no food in the house. As her Dad prayed, there was a knock at the door. When they answered the door, no one was there- but there were several sacks of groceries on the doorstep- oatmeal for breakfast, and many other provisions.

During her growing up years, she lived in McNabb, Spring Valley, Clinton, and Macomb, IL. Her Junior High and High School years were spent in Kenosha, WI. Mary's dad pastored a number of churches. He also spent many years in evangelism. She loved when he would come home! She said that every time he came home, he would be driving a different car. The kids would run out to see what he was driving now. The old cars he drove apparently never lasted very long.Mary was influenced by various ministers who came to the Levin home. John Ankerberg, Sr. was in their home as well as the musicians, Don and Wes Hustad. Her dad's younger brother, Paul J. Levin, was an evangelist as well. He also founded Bible Tracts, Inc. which has produced millions of tracts in many languages.

While in Kenosha, the church opened a Servicemen's Center to minister to the WWII soldiers that came through Kenosha. The Center provided coffee and donuts as well as games like ping pong. The workers were faithful in sharing the gospel with the servicemen who stopped by.

After high school, Mary attended Free Church School in Chicago for one year. She also attended Tennessee Temple in Chattanooga for one semester. During the summers, she travelled with her dad & sisters, singing ladies trios and playing saxophone.

Mary began playing the saxophone when she was about 13 years old. She played her sax for the Lord for 80 years. She also played piano and organ in
many of the churches that she served in with her husband, George Abbas.

Mary spent a short time living in Arkansas with her parents who had moved to Ozark to start Ozark Bible Institute. While there, a pastor in Iowa requested that Mary's sister Betty come to Iowa to help his wife. Mary knew that Betty was needed in Arkansas. And she also knew that she didn't want to go to Iowa! She walked away, knowing that her dad would ask her if she would be willing to go. As she was walking away, she said she heard a voice as clear as a real voice that said, "I thought you said you'd go anywhere for me." She immediately turned around, went back to her dad who asked her if she would be willing to go to Iowa. She said yes!

The trip to Iowa resulted in Mary meeting George at a small country church. They began dating that fall and were married February 11, 1950.

Down through the years, George & Mary Abbas served God together in 12 different churches in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Wyoming & Colorado.

Mary is survived by her two sons and their wives- George, Jr. and Kathleen Abbas, Vincent and Charlene Abbas, two grandchildren, Sarah Kelly and her
husband, Ryan, Robert Abbas and his wife Jennifer, and six great grandchildren Autumn, Katelyn, Gillian, and William Kelly, and Levi and Lilianna Abbas,
along with many nieces and nephews