A pioneer in the Philippines and Thailand

Sister Margaret Mary, SOLT (born Jane Marie Loehr), was born in Denver, Colorado, on September 7, 1940, to Mary Myrtle Carlon and Cornelius Francis Loehr. Jane was the eldest of three children, with two younger brothers, James Edward and Thomas Joseph. Jane was baptized on October 6, 1940, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Denver and confirmed on May 2, 1952, at Saints Peter and Paul Parish.

Sister Margaret Mary’s childhood was filled with adventure and joy. She loved the outdoors, fishing and camping in the Colorado mountains, and spending summers visiting family. She shared a special bond with her brothers through sports like tennis and baseball. The Loehr backyard often became a stage, where Jane directed her brothers in “circus shows” for the neighborhood children, a hint at the theatrical gifts that would later shape her educational life.

Sister graduated from Holy Family High School in 1958 and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Drama, with minors in Music and Education, from Loretto Heights College in 1962. She then completed a master’s degree in Speech Pathology with a minor in Audiology from Stanford University in 1964. Her family fondly notes that she was a remarkably gifted pianist, so accomplished that she could have performed at a concert level had she not dedicated her life to service to God and His people.

She began her career as a speech therapist at Denver Children’s Hospital. But in 1965, seeking a deeper purpose, she traveled to Kansas City, Missouri, for a retreat, an experience that would change her life. There, she met Fr. James Flanagan, founder of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT). He encouraged her to return home, pay off her college debt, and come back in a year. She did just that. In 1966, she returned to Kansas City and began serving as a lay volunteer at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish. Her apostolic work included visiting the poor, distributing food and clothing, tutoring, counseling on a suicide hotline, and ministering to inmates at the Jackson County jail.

In 1967, Jane discerned a call to religious life. She entered the community in Kansas City and professed her first vows on June 10, 1969, receiving the name Sr. Margaret Mary, in honor of her mother and grandmother. For the next ten years, Sr. Margaret Mary taught in inner-city public schools. She also worked with veterans as a speech therapist at a local VA hospital, helping those with cerebral damage regain communication.

In 1979, she was sent to the Philippines with Sr. Mary of the Trinity and Sr. Maria Marta to join Fr. Tom Grier on Cagraray Island. Together with Fr. Michael Jordan and Fr. Gerry Sheehan, they formed one of the first ecclesial family teams in SOLT. Sr. Margaret Mary went on to serve in Novaliches, Manila, and helped establish SOLT missions in Putiao and San Miguel Island. She served in the Philippines for 12 years before being missioned to Thailand in 1992, where she ministered in Sriracha, Chombung, and Bangkla—teaching, forming young women, and working with orphans and girls recovering from drug addiction.

In 1997, Sr. Margaret Mary returned to the United States and served in various missions in South Texas, including Skidmore, Laredo, and Robstown. Her deepest joy was forming priests, brothers, sisters, and lay faithful in the SOLT charism, living out Fr. Flanagan’s vision of renewing the Church through ecclesial family teams.


In her later years, Sr. Margaret Mary bore the cross of Parkinson’s disease with grace and humor. Even as the disease progressed, her wit and joyful spirit remained undiminished. When asked what her favorite ice cream flavor was, she responded, “That’s a trick question.” Sister suffered so well, it was hard to know when the end would come. One night, she was seen with her arms raised to the ceiling, as if beckoning to the Lord. “Sister, do you see something?” asked her caregiver. “I'm doing my exercises,” she quipped. We will miss Sr. Margaret Mary tremendously. We trust she is with the Lord and that He indeed is her final reward, the reward of a life spent and consumed for love of Him and for the salvation of souls.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mary and Cornelius Loehr. She is survived by her beloved brothers, Jim and Tom (Tissa), and her nieces and nephews: Michael (Jennifer), Patrick (Christy), Jeff (Keli), Kira, and Matthew. Great-nieces and nephews include Cedric, Theo, Archie, Wesly, Riley, and Max, as well as many cousins who loved her dearly. 

Sr. Margaret Mary was a radiant witness of a life poured out for Christ and His Church. She will be missed dearly, but her legacy of joy, service, and deep love for the Lord and the poor continues in all who knew her.

A Vigil and Rosary will be held on Thursday, June 5, at the SOLT Sisters’ Motherhouse at 3828 CR 61, Robstown. Visitation begins at 5:00 p.m., with the Rosary at 7:00 p.m.
The Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 6, at St. Anthony’s
Parish at 204 Dunne Avenue, Robstown. Burial and reception will follow at St. Anthony’s Parish in Violet, Texas.