Margaret Viola Mayer 1917 - 2006

MAYER, GIBBON, BLACK

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/19/2017 at 10:26:08

Sioux City Journal
14 December 2006

Margaret Viola Mayer, 89, of Sioux City died Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2006, at Holy Spirit Retirement Home.

Services will be 10 a.m. Friday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, with the Rev. Dan Gunther officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., at Christy-Smith Morningside Chapel.

Margaret was born Jan. 27, 1917, in Harrold, S.D., the daughter of George and Mary (Gibbon) Black. She graduated from Harrold High School in 1934 and St. Mary's School of Nursing in Pierre, S.D., in 1940.

She married Clarence Burnerd Mayer on Nov. 28, 1940. Their first home was in Newell, S.D. During the war years, they were stationed in Maine and Virginia, where she worked as a nurse in the local hospitals. In 1945, they moved to Sioux City and made their home.

She spent many years as a wife, mother and homemaker. During the 1950s, she volunteered her nursing skills in administering the experimental polio vaccinations of Sioux City school children under the direction of Dr. George Spellman and Dr. Jonas Salk. From 1966 to 1982, she worked as the director of nursing at Westwood Convalescent Home. After that she worked part-time giving insurance physicals. Later, her knowledge and interest in antiques moved from a hobby to a successful business venture that lasted for many years.

She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church for almost 60 years, where she was a past president of the Altar Society, a Girl Scout leader and volunteered at the Catholic Bargain Center for many years. She was a long time member of the Catholic Daughters of America, Delta Phi Gamma Sorority, a bridge club, Siouxland Antique Dealers Association and Siouxland Rental Association.

Survivors include four children, Richard Mayer and his fiancee, Jean Maxfield of Dakota Dunes, S.D., Marilyn Mayer of Sioux City, Cheryl and her husband, Les White of Honolulu, Hawaii, and Michael Mayer and his wife, Deb of Sioux City; a sister, Gertrude Iverson of Sioux City; 10 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and long time friends, Esther Whittecar of Moville, Iowa, Margaret and Layton Gerch and Miriam Murtha, all of Sioux City.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence; a daughter, Judith Carol; a sister, Mary Theresa; and a son-in-law, Gary W. Ham.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Scott Mayer, Jason Whittecar, Chris Mayer, John J. Cozad and two great-grandsons, David Scott Mayer and Jeffery Grell. Honorary pallbearers will be her granddaughters, Kelly Sheveland, Abby Custer, Kim Curry, Sarah Wheeler, Amanda Whittecar and Melonie Barnes.