Mary Rhoads

Mary Alice Rhoads, 78, of Ankeny passed away on July 1, 2011 at home with her family by her side following a long 13 year battle with Alzheimers. Mary was born on February 11, 1933 in Clinton, Iowa to Robert and Leona Swanson. Both parents are deceased. Mary graduated from Clinton High School (Iowa) and went to Teachers College in Cedar Falls obtaining a teaching certificate for elementary grades. Her first teaching position was in Ventura in 1953. She met and married Cecil Rhoads who was also employed at Ventura. As the years rolled by Mary was active in, scouts, church choirs, teaching, playing bridge, registration at DMACC (Ankeny) and spent 18 years as a secretary in the House of Representatives. She was a devoted mother caring deeply about her family and friends of which she had many. She was a resourceful fun loving wife and mother and seldom had a bad day.

Mary had one brother Robert Swanson, deceased and one sister Gloria Izard of Vine Grove, Kentucky.

Left to cherish her memories are her husband of 57 years, Cecil, three daughters, Marce (Keith) Huhn of Nevada, Sandy (Mike) Macklin of Ankeny, Susan (Tim) Jennings of Ankeny, two sons, Tony (Jana) Rhoads of Ankeny and Paul (Vickie) Rhoads of Ames, 13 grandchildren, Ashley (Ryan), Carly, Haley, Riley, Lindsay, Josh, TJ, Jill, Blake, Brooke, Bailey, Jacob and Wyatt and one great grandchild, Tucker along with many relatives and friends who will miss her dearly.

The family would like to thank the staff at SouthernCare Hospice for their loving care.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, July 5th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, July 6th at 10:30 A.M. at the Ankeny First United Methodist Church, 206 SW Walnut St., Ankeny, Iowa 50023. Burial will be in Ankeny Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association, SouthernCare Hospice or Ankeny First United Methodist Church.