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Gearhart, Maryllis Joanne 1934-2021

GEARHART, GARDNER, INGLIS, HENDERSON, HUMES, ANDERSON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 9/16/2021 at 12:10:58

Maryllis Joanne Gearhart
August 23, 1934 - September 13, 2021

Maryllis Joanne (Gardner) Gearhart, 87, of Des Moines, passed away peacefully on Sept. 13, 2021 at Sunny View Care Center in Ankeny. Maryllis was born just outside Mingo, Iowa on Aug. 23, 1934 to Guy Gardner and Opal (Inglis) Gardner. The youngest of four children, she graduated from Mingo High School in 1952 and married her high school sweetheart, John Darwin Gearhart on June 14, 1952.

John's military service took them to Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Maryland, and Delaware. After his discharge, they moved to Iowa City where Maryllis used to joke she folded former Governor Robert Ray's underwear as John went to college at The University of Iowa.

They settled in Brooklyn in 1962 and were there until the fall of 1985 when they moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado. They returned to Iowa in 1987 and eventually landed in Des Moines after son Jon's debilitating accident in 1996.

A devoted wife and mother, Maryllis dedicated her life to caring for others, particularly her family. She truly was the heart of the home, nurturing love and compassion and empathy. She often quoted the Golden Rule and reminded her children to practice patience with others - none of us has walked a mile in someone else's shoes. She encouraged her six children to do their best in whatever they pursued.

Maryllis sewed, knitted, and loved to crochet. She was an amazing cook, rarely using recipes except for baking, and oh those Halloween sugar cookies! She knew how to stretch a budget - a necessity for a family of eight - and was a master grammarian and speller, often helping with English homework. She was a proud supporter of the arts and athletics at the BGM High School and rarely missed an activity her children were participating in. She was known to chauffer the cheerleaders to away football games. She was a Blue Bird leader and coached the Blue Moons little league softball team one summer.

Maryllis loved music, singing, and playing the piano. She was an active member of the Brooklyn Presbyterian Church and sang in the choir. She participated in the Musicale Singers community choir and had a group of friends with whom she enjoyed playing pinochle. Maryllis also loved sports and was quietly competitive, until the Iowa Hawkeye football or basketball teams were playing. If you ever watched a game with her, you'd find her cheering (or jeering) loudly on the edge of her seat. Maryllis also had a great love for animals. She had many pets, grand-pets, and great-grand-pets that she adored and she fur-baby-sat on occasion. Animals loved her, too, as even the most standoffish cat could be found on her lap under a blanket at times. Most of all, Maryllis had a beautiful spirit and continued to care for others until she was no longer physically able, providing day-to-day care for son Jon for nearly 20 years. She exhibited the best qualities anyone could ever want in a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother - and as much as she loved her family, they love and miss her deeply.

Maryllis was preceded in death by her father, mother, brothers Gale and Gary, sister Mavis Henderson, and son-in-law David Humes. She is survived by her husband of 69-plus years, John; her six children Tamera Humes, Kevin (Marcia) Gearhart, Christi Gearhart, Thomas (Carla) Gearhart, Sarah (Mike) Anderson, and Jonathan Gearhart; her 11 grandchildren: Jacob Humes, Holly Humes, Matthew Gearhart, Christopher (Jessica) Gearhart, Nicholas Gearhart, Michael Bennett, Alexander (Victoria) Gearhart, Joshua (Cassie) Gearhart, Amelia Hybel, Nicole Anderson, Jessica (Joshua Schau) Anderson; and 2 great-grandchildren, Gemma Anderson and Nova Gearhart.

Funeral services will be held at Coburn Funeral Home in Colfax, Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 18 at 1:00 pm with Pastor David Lincoln officiating. Burial will follow at Greencastle Cemetary.
Pallbearers: Jacob Humes, Matthew Gearhart, Christopher Gearhart, Nicholas Gearhart, Mike Anderson, and Joshua Schau. Honorary pallbearers: Holly Humes, Michael Bennett, Alexander Gearhart, Joshua Gearhart, Amelia Hybel, Nicole Anderson, and Jessica Anderson. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.

To send flowers to the family or plant a memorial tree in memory of Maryllis Joanne Gearhart, please visit our Tribute Store

Services

SERVICE

Saturday 18 Sept
Coburn Funeral Home
24 W Howard Street
Colfax, IA 50045
Burial will take place at Green Castle Cemetery.
1:00 PM ~ The Coburn Funeral Home, Colfax, Iowa 13 Sept 2021.


 

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