Pettit, Mary Frances (Jones) 1920-2004

PETTIT, JONES, PICKARD

Posted By: Debbie Nash (email)
Date: 4/14/2004 at 21:29:16

Mary Frances Jones Pettit
April 14, 2004

Mary Frances Jones Pettit, 84, of 1000 Hillcrest Drive in Fairfield, died Tuesday morning, April 13, 2004, at her home.

Born Feb. 25, 1920, at Pleasant Plain, she was the daughter of Millard L. and Jennie Pickard Jones.

Mary married Vernon B. "George" Pettit on Dec. 23. 1942. He died on Dec. 8, 1992.

Mrs. Pettit graduated from Pleasant Plain High School and received her B.A. from Central College in Pella.

She taught in Numa, West Branch and Keosauqua previous to her 28 years at Fairfield High School. Following her retirement in 1986, she served 12 years on the Fairfield Community School Board, including four years as president.

Mrs. Pettit was the first recipient of the Harper Brush Teacher of the Year award in 1982, and was the first runner-up as Iowa Teacher of the Year in 1983. She was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Iowa High School Speech Association, also in 1983. Other honors included being named Distinguished Alumna of Central College in 1976, winner of the Iowa Scholastic Journalism Award in 1971 and the Kenneth Stratton Journalism Award in 1974.

Mrs. Pettit served as president of the southeast district of the Iowa High School Speech Association before being elected as teacher representative to the executive committee of the I.H.S.S.A. She was a speaker and moderator at numerous high school and school board conventions. Among her published papers was "Strengthening Board of Education/Superintendent Relationships in America's Schools" printed by the University of Northern Iowa.

She served more than 30 years as a critic and judge in both speech and journalism and had been active in journalism at the time of her death.

Mrs. Pettit served four years as president of Fairfield Women's Club and was a member of the McElhinny Foundation Board. She was a 50-year member of Chapter C. P.E.O., a member of Fairfield Golf & Country Club and a member of the Board of Trustees of the First United Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and a brother, Lewis.

Surviving are her son and his wife, Larry and Linda Pettit of Fairfield; three grandsons, Rob (Niki) Pettit; Jim (Michele) Pettit and Mark Pettit, plus one great-granddaughter, Claire Pettit; a nephew; and several cousins.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, April 16, at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Mike Metz officiating. Interment will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield.

Visitation will be Thursday at the Raymond Funeral Home, with the family present from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established to the Mary F. Pettit Scholarship Fund. Memorials may be mailed to the family at 704 Highland Ave., Fairfield 52556, or in care of the Raymond Funeral Home at 112 W. Burlington Ave., Fairfield 52556.

Courtesy of the Fairfield Daily Ledger Inc. 2004