Mary Lee Conklin

Mary Lee Conklin, the daughter of Fred and Evelyn (Shanks) Davis, was born December 26, 1925, with her identical twin sister Martha on her parents’ farm near Ross, Iowa and died September 30, 2012, at the Tiffany Square Nursing Home in Grand Island, Nebraska at the age of 86 years, 9 months, and 4 days. Mary was baptized and confirmed as a Christian. She attended rural schools then graduated from the Exira High School with the Class of 1944. Mary and her twin sister Martha moved to Des Moines, Iowa where they attended and graduated beauty school. They returned to Audubon and opened a beauty shop named “Twin’s Hair Salon.” In 1948, Mary was united in marriage to William Wiges. Two sons Terrill and Randall were born to this union. Mary and Martha worked together until 1959 when Mary became a State Health Inspector. On July 12, 1968 she married Dwight H. Conklin at the First United Methodist Church in Audubon. Mary worked for the State of Iowa for over 31 years traveling throughout the Western half of the state. Dwight died May 3, 1989. Mary lived in Audubon then later moved to Grand Island, Nebraska to live with her son Randy. Mary was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon, Iowa. She had many friends, enjoyed talking with her sisters and shopping. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and sister and will be missed by many. Mary was preceded in death by her husband Dwight Conklin; her parents; her sister Jane and husband Dr. L.V. Larsen; her brothers-in-law: John Renflte and Laurence Patrick. Survivors include her sons: Randy Wiges of Grand Island, Nebraska; Terrill Wiges of Iowa City, Iowa; her grandchildren: Lindsey Wiges of St. Petersburg, Florida; and Chase Wiges of Kansas City, Missouri; her sisters: Martha Renflte of Indianola, Iowa; JoAnn Patrick of Carson, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Cemetery:
Inurnment will be in the Arlington Heights Cemetery in Audubon, Iowa.

Visitation:
The family will meet with friends Wednesday afternoon at 1:00 P.M. until the time of the service at the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon, Iowa.

Service:
Celebration of life memorial service will be conducted by Reverend Dr. Ronald Yarnell on Wednesday, December 26, 2012, at 2:00 P. M. at the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon, Iowa.