Mrs. Hornady was born Jan. 11, 1913, at Lorenz, Iowa, the daughter of LaRoy and Aleen (Tolbert) Steen.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joyce, who died on Jan. 15, 1981, and their son, Robert Hornady, who died Aug. 21, 2008.
Survivors include a daughter, Margaret (Hornady) David, and son-in-law, Donald David, of Grand Island; a son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Jill Hornady of Grand Island, and a daughter-in-law, Barbara Hornady of Pacific Grove Calif.; grandchildren and their spouses, Christopher and Vimala Steadman, Geoffrey Steadman and Danielle Maddon, Jason and Ellen Hornady, Meighan Hornady, Elizabeth and Will Ingham; and great-grandchildren, Sarah Steadman, Abigail and Alex Hornady and Eleanor and Julia Ingham. Also left to cherish her memory is Jocelina Calhoun, caregiver and dear friend.
Marval was raised in Lincoln, where she graduated from high school. She was united in marriage to Joyce Wright Hornady on April 21, 1934. They moved to Grand Island in 1942. She and her husband founded Hornady Manufacturing in 1949.
Marval raised three children and was content as an active volunteer for many organizations, as well as doing bookwork at home for their small but growing bullet manufacturing company. In 1972, she was persuaded by her husband to come back to work and assume a more formal role at the company, which by then was also manufacturing ammunition and reloading tools.
When Joyce was killed in a plane crash on Jan. 15, 1981, Marval took over as chairman of the board and secretary of the corporation. Along with her son, Steve, and daughter, Margaret, Hornady Manufacturing did not falter and has become the success story it is due to family values, American work ethic, and ingenuity.
Marval has led by example, not only with success of the family business, but also in giving back to her community. Some of her recognitions include: Grand Island YWCA’s first Woman of Distinction Award, 1986; The Independent’s 1989 Woman of the Year; Grand Island United Way Citizen of the Year, 1989; co-chair for the College Park capital campaign in 1992; and Outstanding Philanthropist of the Nebraska Chapter of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives, 1996.
She has served as board member, volunteer and philanthropist for Stuhr Museum and Foundation, St. Francis Medical Center and Foundation, YWCA and YWCA capital fund campaign chairman, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, United Way, Third City Community Clinic, Trinity United Methodist Church, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the former Lutheran Memorial Hospital, YMCA, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and others.
“I share because I have enough to share” has been Marval’s clarion call. She also believed it is “fun to feel like a part of the community and not just someone on the outside looking in.” Our Community has been blessed of the life of Marval Hornady.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Stuhr Museum Foundation, The Young Women’s Christian Association, Trinity United Methodist Church or donor’s choice.
