Maribeth Ann Henney (1935-2015)

HENNEY, LYTTON

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 8/22/2015 at 12:27:48

From Stevens Memorial Chapel obituary, Ames, Story County, Iowa:

Maribeth Ann Henney age 79, of Ames, Iowa died Wednesday, August 19, 2015 at Heartwood House, in Ames, Iowa.

Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 27, 2015 at the Collegiate United Methodist Church (2622 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50014).
Maribeth Henney was born September 8, 1935, at Newton, Kansas, the daughter of Frank Leroy Henney and Gladys Irene (Lytton) Henney. She also had a sister, Phyllis Jean Henney.

Maribeth lived in Newton, Kansas until 4 years of age, at which time the family moved to Topeka. She graduated from Topeka High School in 1953, and earned a B.Ed. in 1957 and a M.Ed in 1965 from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. She taught second and third graders at Lafayette Elementary School in Topeka from 1957-1965. She taught reading and math methods courses, and earned a PH.D. from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio in 1968. Since then, until her retirement in 1997, she was employed by Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, Iowa as a professor in the Curriculum and Instruction Department of the College of Education.

At Iowa State University, Maribeth taught future and current elementary teachers, including courses in reading and language arts methods, corrective reading, computers and reading, kindergarten methods, and she supervised of student teaching. She was an advocate of the holistic philosophy, and interested in children's literature, using children's books in her teaching as well as for other purposes. She was instrumental in organizing and implementing Project Opportunity, a special curriculum for training teachers. She chaired curriculum development in the department for many years, including catalog revision, and also served on college and university curriculum committees. Since her retirement, she has taught courses for the College for Seniors, including children's literature.

Ms. Henney was a member of the International Reading Association and Alpha Upsilon Alpha, and served as state president of the Iowa Reading Association in 1984-85, as well as in many other capacities. She organized Alpha Upsilon Alpha, an I.R.A. student honorary organization, and served as faculty sponsor for over ten years. She served on the NCATE Evaluation committee of the International Reading Association for six years, to approve reading/language arts programs in various universities. She was also a life member of National Council of Teachers of English, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Kappa Delta Pi, Phi Kappa Phi, National Education Association, Topeka High School Alumni Association, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. and American Association of Retired Persons.

Part-time employment included serving as a Girl Scout troop leader and as a Girl Scout camp counselor for several years, as well as being secretary for the Kansas Vocational Education Department and the Kansas Department of Public Instruction. She was a graduate teaching assistant at Kent State University from 1965-1968, teaching courses in reading and mathematics methods.

Ms. Henney was a life-time member of the United Methodist Church, most recently serving at Collegiate United Methodist Church in Ames, Iowa. She played in the handbell choir at Ames since 1974, and sang alto in the voice choirs of many churches throughout her life. She previously played flute in Topeka for 20 years, and performed in the Topeka Civic Symphony Orchestra for eight years. Other hobbies included caring for her dogs; reading; sewing; doing handicrafts such as tatting, crocheting, embroidery, crewel, needlepoint; photography; music; studying about and enjoying nature; traveling; and children's literature.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Collegiate United Methodist Church Endowment Fund for Maribeth Henney, 2622 Lincoln Way; Ames, Iowa, 50014, the , 8364 Hickman, Suite D, Des Moines, Iowa, 50325, or to Iowa State University Foundation "Maribeth Henney" scholarship fund.