Marilyn L. (Smith) Lounsberry (1926-2009)

LOUNSBERRY, PHELPS, SHAW, PELLEY

Posted By: Nevada Journal
Date: 3/21/2009 at 12:21:27

THE NEVADA JOURNAL, Nevada, Story County, Iowa, Thursday, March 19, 2009.

Marilyn L. (Smith) Lounsberry passed away with her husband at her side at the Story County Long Term Care facility in Nevada from a stroke at the age of 82. Funeral services were held Saturday, March 14 at the First United Methodist Church in Nevada with Pastor Steve Williams officiating. Burial was held in the Nevada Municipal Cemetery.

Marilyn was born on November 3, 1926 in Nevada to Marvin and Signa (Phelps) Smith. She was a 1944 graduate of Nevada High School. She had many interests, one being music, so while in high school, she took voice lessons from Mrs. Sapp. Marilyn developed a nice singing voice which she used on many occasions. On leave from the U.S. Navy after World War II ended, she was married to her longtime boyfriend, Ray Lounsberry of Colo on August 31, 1945 at the First United Methodist Church in Nevada. Marilyn was such an avid reader, she would check out books from the local library, but her favorite book was her Bible, which she read cover to cover twice. Having had only one year of college, Marilyn had a great desire to become an elementary teacher. After her children were in high school, she drove to Drake for three years, missing only 2 days, to get her degree and graduated in 1969. She was soon hired by Superintendent Keith Tadlock to teach elementary school in Colo, which she dearly loved. When one of her fourth grade classes which she had taught, graduated in 1984, she was thrilled when they asked Marilyn to be the speaker at their commencement.

While wintering in Arizona for 12 years, Marilyn adored hiking with friends in the Superstition and surrounding mountains. In 1977, she and Ray joined a hiking group in Iowa City and traveled with 12 other hikers and flew to Tanzania, Africa and made it to the top of Kilimanjaro, approximately 19000 ft.

She and Ray resided on a farm east of Nevada for 62 years, until 20 months ago when she went to stay at Story County Long Term Care. There she made many friends. The Nursing staffs, especially Sue Rucker, were such caring people.
Marilyn was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and was active until being disabled. She was also a lifetime member of the VFW Auxiliary and served on the Nevada Historical Board.
Marilyn is survived by her husband of 64 years; two granddaughters, Katie and her husband Andy Shaw of Orlando, FL and Rebekah and her husband Paul Pelley of Santa Clara, CA; nieces and nephews; and many friends, especially The Coach.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Marvin Smith on January 23, 1974; and all of her children, Tommie on May 19, 1950, Signa Widner on September 29, 1990, and Frank on January 25, 1999.

Online condolences may be left on Marilyn's guest book at www.chetryanmortuary.com

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Cystic Fibrosis, Story County Long Term Care, or the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

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