Obituary of Mary Byers

Mary Elizabeth Byers, the daughter of Phil and Edna (Elliot) Huston was born near Hartley, IA on April 24, 1924, as was her twin sister, Margery. She grew up on a farm northwest of Hartley along with her brother, Will, and sisters, Reva and Pearl. Mary attended country school through the eighth grade and then graduated from Hartley High School in 1934. She was united in marriage to Clare Byers on June 2, 1937 at her parent's home near Hartley. Clare and Mary were blessed with three children; sons, Jackie Clare and Lynn, and a daughter, Cherie. Following their marriage, the couple resided on a farm near May City. In 1971, after many years of hard work, Mary received her B.S. Degree in education from Northwestern College in Orange City, IA. Throughout her career, Mary taught country school, grade school in Sutherland, IA and Melvin, IA, and preschool at United Methodist in Hartley for a total of 29 years. In 1975, Clare and Mary retired and moved to the town of Hartley. Clare passed away September 25, 1998. Mary continued to live in Hartley, and eventually moved to the Community Memorial Health Center on September 6, 2011. She passed away there on September 12, 2013 at the age of 97. Mary was a member of the Hartley United Methodist Church, UMW and the Tuesday Club. She loved to spend time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her hobbies included reading, crocheting, playing cards, trying new recipes and baking her special chocolate chip cookies. She is survived by her daughter, Cherie Sterk and her husband, Ron, of Hartley, IA; daughter-in-law, Kathy Byers of Davenport, IA; 4 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild; several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Mary was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Clare; infant son, Jackie Clare; son, Lynn; sister, Reva Steinbeck, and brother, Will Huston. In Celebration of Life Mary E. Byers Born ~ April 24, 1916 Died ~ September 12, 2013 Age ~ 97 years 4 months 18 days Memorial Service 11:00 a.m. Monday, September 16, 2013 Hartley United Methodist Church Hartley, Iowa Clergy ~ Rev. Steve Campbell Organist ~ Bonnie Linder Congregational Singing Processional ~ "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" #526 "In The Garden" #314 "Sweet Hour of Prayer" #496 Recessional ~ "Jesus Is All The World To Me" #469 Honorary Pallbearers Jack Byers Dennis Hebrink Lynn Horstmann Steve Byers Ushers Ken Smith Randy Menke Inurnment Pleasant View Cemetery Hartley, Iowa