Mary Alice (Holmes) Fife (2016)
FIFE, HOLMES, BREEDING, SCHOONOVER, SHAW, BEK, LANCASTER-PHARES, CAMPBELL, ARNOLD, GUTHRIE, HOCH, LANCASTER, PHARES
Posted By: Shirley Keating (email)
Date: 3/6/2016 at 19:07:33
Des Moines Register
Des Moines, Iowa
Sunday, March 6, 2016Mary Fife, Des Moines
Mary Alice Fife (Holmes) entered this life on September 19, 1912 in Pitzer, Iowa and departed on February 23, 2016 at the age of 103. Mary was the daughter of Elinor (Breeding) and Lester Holmes. She had three sisters and one brother: Hazel Schoonover, Edith Shaw, Mildred Bek and Carl Holmes - all preceding her in death. Mary married Kenneth (Bill) Fife on April 11, 1931. From this union there were four children Clifford, Betty, Larry and Joyce.
Always independent and strong willed, Mary had a loving and generous heart. Mary lived an exceptional life filled with friends and family who loved her. She loved country music and into her 90's could be seen scootin' around the dance floor every chance she got. She liked playing slots at Prairie Meadows and even with her limited vision she knew by the sounds when she won - which was often. Mary was known for her baking and would always offer her famous cinnamon rolls or homemade bread to anyone that visited. Those that knew Mary knew she loved the color red, always filled her yard with lawn ornaments and her nails were always painted - right up to the moment she took her last breath. In her 103 years she had experienced more things that most only read about - the depression, Bonnie and Clyde, Women' Rights, Prohibition, first flight, first man in space, 9/11 and countless inventions.
Mary is survived by son Larry (Janice) Fife; daughters Betty Lancaster-Phares and Joyce Campbell Arnold (Terry) and 11 grandchildren. In addition, Mary's legacy lives on with a host of loving great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by husband Kenneth (Bill) Fife, son Clifford Fife, grandsons Timmy Fife and Matthew Fife, great great grandson Drake Guthrie, daughter in law Joan Fife Hoch and son in laws Jess Lancaster and Bing Phares.
In honor of Mary's deep love for animals, a contribution can be made to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.
"Thank you for the laughter, the love and the memories"
Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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