Mary Ashby

Mary R. Ashby, 97, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Saturday, October 2, 2010, at the Heritage House in Atlantic.

Mary Ruth Ashby was born June 18, 1913, in Benton, Iowa, to Ike and Lois (Callen) Tharp. She grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, and attended North High School graduating with the class of 1930. She married Ben T. Ashby on December 28, 1932, in Des Moines, Iowa. Shortly after their marriage, Mary and Ben moved to Harlan, Iowa. They remained in Harlan for about five years then returned to the Des Moines area. They also resided in Urbandale and West Liberty.

The couple moved to Atlantic in the early 1980s when Ben worked for Walnut Grove. Ben passed away in 1998. While in Atlantic, Mary worked at Walnut Grove Lab and Ben Franklin. She was a member of the Eastern Star and the Methodist Church.

Some of Mary's favorite activities were ceramics, playing tennis and cards, and was a killer backgammon player. She was an avid reader, a great cook, a very caring, thoughtful and loving person, and kept her sense of humor to the end.

Surviving Mary are her son, Ben Ashby of Palm City, Florida; her daughter, Linda Ashton of Orange, California; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Ben T. Ashby; four brothers; one sister; one grandson; and one great-granddaughter.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 6, 2010, at Hockenberry Family Care Chapel in Atlantic. Visitation with family will be from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010, at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic. Burial will be in the Atlantic Cemetery.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.