PERRY, Marjorie Ellen (McALLISTER)
MCALLISTER, PERRY, MCCRARY, HYNEK, PARRISH, NELSON, SHEARER, INGRACIA, RAHN, OTT, SLEE, MCFARLAND, GROSZKRUGER
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/15/2018 at 14:15:18
Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, January 10, 2018OBITUARY ~ MARJORIE ELLEN (McALLISTER) PERRY
November 13, 1919 ~ January 05, 2018Marjorie Ellen Perry was 98 years old, residing with her daughter, Angie and son-in-law, Bill Hynek of rural Ellston at the time of her death. She passed away January 5, 2018 at home from congestive heart failure.
Marjorie was born November 13, 1919 on a farm, three miles south of Farragut, Iowa to Sam and Viola (McCrary) McAllister. She was born at home and the third of six children. She learned the value of hard work growing up on a farm during the depression, but it was a good life. She was excited to get electricity, in-door plumbing, a radio, a Model T, a tractor, a refrigerator, graveled roads, make-up, and the list goes on. In 1937, Marjorie graduated from Farragut High School and went on to earn a two-year teaching certificate from Northwest Missouri State Teachers College in Maryville, MO in 1940. Her first teaching job was in New Market, IA.
During the summer of 1942, she attended summer school at Colorado State College of Education in Greeley, CO and met her future husband, Richard C. Slee, a cadet in the Air Force. They were married on June 5, 1943 in Pasadena, CA and she followed him from air base to air base, picking up odd jobs along the way. When WWII ended, the couple moved to Columbus, Ohio where their first child Pamela was born on May 11, 1947 and Rich completed his bachelor degree in art education from Ohio State. In September of 1949, the couple moved to Des Moines, IA where Rich accepted a Lincoln High School art teaching position and
Marjorie enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom, giving birth to Gregory on Jan 1, 1950. On July 21, 1951, Angela was born, and Rich was again in the Air Force. This time stationed in Korea. This ended his involvement with the family. Marjorie went back to Greeley and completed her 4-year teaching certificate in 1955. She supported her family by teaching elementary school in Shenandoah for the next 25 years. In 1960, Marjorie divorced Rich and married Virgil Perry on July 10, 1960. Virgil was the father of four boys and the manager of Brown’s Shoe Fit. Marjorie continued to teach and acquired her master of education from Northwest Missouri State. After retiring in 1975, Marjorie and Virgil enjoyed wintering 21 years in Bradenton, Florida. After 37 years of marriage, Virgil died in 1998 and Marjorie built a home on Sun Valley Lake and enjoyed ten golden years there. At the age of 91, Marjorie turned her home over to son, Greg and moved to the nearby farm of daughter, Angie and Bill Hynek.
As a teacher, Marjorie was a natural storyteller and artist, preparing countless programs for community organizations. She enjoyed tole painting, oil painting, and china painting. She was a life-long learner and loved traveling. In 1972, they traveled to the Holy Land only to later watch the evening news and see the hotels and sites destroyed by bombs. She took many Caribbean cruises and most recently a cruise to Hawaii. She kept her mind engaged playing cards, computer games, and bingo at the Tingley Meal Site. She loved being the “Weather Lady” for KSOI radio the past five and a half years and meeting her listeners when the opportunity arose. She kept physically active by being an avid walker until her age limited her to a recumbent bike. She was a smorgasbord Protestant: a Congregationalist in childhood, a Presbyterian in mid-life, and a Methodist in senior-life. She was active in 4-H, Toastmistresses, and DAR. She invested in the future by annually giving her Shenandoah High School Marjorie Perry Teacher Scholarship and spending time with her ten grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and many lady friends.
Marjorie was preceded in death by her husbands, parents, and siblings Beth (Russ) Parrish, Duane (Alice) McAllister, Keith (Louise) McAllister, and Merlin (Sylvia) McAllister.
She is survived by her sister Jeanne (Roy) Nelson; her children and their spouses Pam (Greg) Shearer, Greg (Diana) Slee, and Angie (Bill) Hynek; her grandchildren Heather (Steve) Ingracia, Havala Rahn, Tom (Jen) Shearer, Christy (Lance) Ott, Mark (Katie) Shearer, Sam Slee, Katt Slee, Joe (Annie) Hynek, Amy (Stacy) McFarland, Amanda (Karl) Groszkruger; and her great-grandchildren Nate Ingracia, Rose Ingracia, Ben Ingracia, Zach Ingracia, Mary Kate Ingracia, Paige Shearer, Callee Shearer, Liam Shearer, Graham Shearer, Bailey Rahn, Savannah Rahn, Julian Rahn, Tyler Ott, Luke Ott, Owen Shearer, Nora Shearer, Emmet Shearer, Gus McFarland, Leo McFarland, Zayn Hynek, and Darby Groszkruger.
Memorials may be made to the Tingley Meal Site.
Celebration of life services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, January 8, 2018 at the Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr, Iowa. Officiating was Pastor Bill Armstrong. Sharing of memories and scripture were family members. Pianist was Virginia Walden. Musical selections were “Danny Boy”, “Gospel Medley” and “Amazing Grace” .
Casket bearers were Joe Hynek, Amy Hynek-McFarland, Sam Slee, Kathryn Slee, Tom Shearer, and Mark Shearer.
Final resting place is the Ellston Cemetery in Ellston, Iowa.
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2018
Ringgold Obituaries maintained by Tony Mercer.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen