Mary Colleen Ashby
October 1, 1924 — February 29, 2008
Mary Colleen Ashby, 83, of Marion, died Friday, February 29, 2008, at home, following a long illness. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion by Father John Gossman. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Monday at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Marion where a rosary will begin at 7:00 p.m. Burial: Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.
Survivors include her children, Shannon Ashby of Cedar Rapids, Melanie Rapier and her husband Bill of Plano, Texas, Andrew Ashby of St. Cloud, Minnesota, Jerry Ashby and his wife Tonda of Blairstown, Julia Hirschman and her husband Bill of Gowanda, New York, James and Sarah Ashby of Marion, Nancy Green and her husband, Ed of Cedar Rapids, Thomas Ashby of Marion and Kathy Konopka and her husband Stanley of Hudson, Ohio.
Also surviving are twenty-five grandchildren, Amy Jo Renner, Tony Ashby, Katie, Betsy, and Matthew Rapier, David, Beth and Ryan Ashby, Jeremy and Aaron Ashby, Erin, Bailey, Duke, Sam, Rachael, Zach and Claire Hirschman, Brandon, Stephanie, Samantha and Mason Ashby, Daniel and Allison Green, John and Audrey Konopka; four great-grandchildren, Ashby and Jordann Renner, and Carter and Cameron Ashby; her sister, Gretchyn Swantz of Kalona; many nieces and nephews; and her very special friend, Delores Fosdick of Cedar Rapids.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and her brother, Al Grady.
Mary was born October 1, 1924, the daughter of Ivo and Ernestine (Dean) Grady in Davenport. Mary was a teacher and taught English in Keota and Kalona during World War II. She was married for over fifty-five years to David Ashby, the love of her life. After twenty years of being a mother and homemaker, Mary worked evenings at Rockwell Collins and attended Mt. Mercy College by day to complete her degree in music, afterwards she became a band director in Shellsburg. She was one of the original founders and Vice President of Quality Chef Foods in Cedar Rapids. For fifteen years, she created all of the recipes for soups and sauces that were sold to restaurants all over the country. In spite of all her accomplishments her passion was her nine children. She, like her brother, was a devoted Hawkeye and White Sox fan.
The family would like to extend a special thank-you to Dr. Pruchno and his staff.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Mary’s memory.
Survivors include her children, Shannon Ashby of Cedar Rapids, Melanie Rapier and her husband Bill of Plano, Texas, Andrew Ashby of St. Cloud, Minnesota, Jerry Ashby and his wife Tonda of Blairstown, Julia Hirschman and her husband Bill of Gowanda, New York, James and Sarah Ashby of Marion, Nancy Green and her husband, Ed of Cedar Rapids, Thomas Ashby of Marion and Kathy Konopka and her husband Stanley of Hudson, Ohio.
Also surviving are twenty-five grandchildren, Amy Jo Renner, Tony Ashby, Katie, Betsy, and Matthew Rapier, David, Beth and Ryan Ashby, Jeremy and Aaron Ashby, Erin, Bailey, Duke, Sam, Rachael, Zach and Claire Hirschman, Brandon, Stephanie, Samantha and Mason Ashby, Daniel and Allison Green, John and Audrey Konopka; four great-grandchildren, Ashby and Jordann Renner, and Carter and Cameron Ashby; her sister, Gretchyn Swantz of Kalona; many nieces and nephews; and her very special friend, Delores Fosdick of Cedar Rapids.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and her brother, Al Grady.
Mary was born October 1, 1924, the daughter of Ivo and Ernestine (Dean) Grady in Davenport. Mary was a teacher and taught English in Keota and Kalona during World War II. She was married for over fifty-five years to David Ashby, the love of her life. After twenty years of being a mother and homemaker, Mary worked evenings at Rockwell Collins and attended Mt. Mercy College by day to complete her degree in music, afterwards she became a band director in Shellsburg. She was one of the original founders and Vice President of Quality Chef Foods in Cedar Rapids. For fifteen years, she created all of the recipes for soups and sauces that were sold to restaurants all over the country. In spite of all her accomplishments her passion was her nine children. She, like her brother, was a devoted Hawkeye and White Sox fan.
The family would like to extend a special thank-you to Dr. Pruchno and his staff.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Mary’s memory.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Colleen Ashby, please visit our flower store.