Henderson, Mary 1925-2012

HENDERSON, ELLIOTT, ROBBINS, JOHNSON, WILKINS, SIECK, OLSON, CONN, DAVIS

Posted By: Marilyn Norris Holmes
Date: 12/24/2013 at 09:53:49

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
May 28 and 31, 2012

MARY HENDERSON

Mary Henderson, 86, of Grinnell died May 25, 2012, at the Mayflower Community Health Care Center in Grinnell.

A funeral mass is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 1, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Grinnell with Rev. Nick Adam officiating. Organist will be Marilyn Kriegel, accompanied by the St. Mary's parish choir. Bagpiper will be David Clower. Pallbearers will be Robert "Troy" Sieck, Lisa Arment, Michael, Tracy, Matthew and Nicholas Wilkins, Angie Johnston and Jennifer Borst. Burial will be in Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell.

A rosary will be said 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell.

Visitation will be held from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Smith Funeral Home with the family present from 6 to 8 Thursday evening.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Grinnell Regional Hospice, Mayflower Community, or St. Mary's Catholic Church Parish Foundation.

Mary was born May 31, 1925, in Grinnell, the daughter of Gilmore and Marie Elliott Robbins. She was raised in Grinnell and graduated from Grinnell High School. She attended William Penn College in Oskaloosa and received her teacher's certificate. She then taught at a rural school in Grant Township for a year.

On June 1, 1946, she was united in marriage with Robert Henderson, in Grinnell, where the couple continued to live. Over the years she was employed at Spurgeons, Montgomery Ward and with the school lunch program at Bailey Park Elementary and Grinnell Senior High. Later she was employed in the office at Stadiums Unlimited. She retired in 1984.

Mary was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, the Altar and Rosary Society and Lady Elks. She enjoyed spending time with her family, reading, playing cards, and putting puzzles together.

Survivors include three daughters, Katherine Johnston of Baxter, Suzanne Wilkins of Grinnell, and Margaret Sieck of Grinnell; three sisters, Margaret Olson of Grinnell, Pat Conn of Grinnell and Betty Davis of Des Moines; eight grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 1984; one brother, Gilmore Robbins, Jr.; and one great-grandson, Austin.