Mary Elizabeth Furr

Ankeny

Mary Elizabeth Furr, 87, left this world on Friday July 19, 2013 with her family by her side.

She was born August 10, 1925 in Albia, IA to Stephen and Elizabeth Trenshaw. Mary graduated high school in 1943 from Oskaloosa, IA and immediately went to Washington D.C. to work for the FBI during WWII. After the war ended she moved back to Oskaloosa and worked at Mahaska State Bank as well as for Blakesley Drug as a bookkeeper.

She met William (Bill) Furr also of Oskaloosa after he returned from the Marine Corps. They were married August 22, 1948 and moved to Des Moines where both worked for Equitable Life of Iowa. Mary was a charter member of St. Mary of Nazareth and was their very first bookkeeper – a position she held for 11 years. In addition she was a talented seamstress making many of the original altar clothes and Tabernacle curtains for the church. Mary was also a member of the Greater Des Moines Garden Club where she helped start the first Des Moines Bonsai Club with a role of first vice-president.

Mary was preceded in death by her brothers Paul Trenshaw (Ottumwa), Charles Trenshaw (California) and John Trenshaw (Florida). She leaves a loving husband, Bill, two daughters – Ann (Randy) Petersen, Molly (Larry) McLaughlin, and two grandsons – Mitchell and Tanner McLaughlin – all of Ankeny.

Visitation is at McLaren’s Chapel in West Des Moines on Tuesday night from 6 to 8 p.m. with a Mass Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. at St. Mary of Nazareth in Des Moines. Burial will take place at Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mercy Hospice, Des Moines Garden Club or the Animal Rescue League of Iowa in the memory of Mary.

The family would like to express their gratitude for the loving and compassionate care provided by Mercy Hospice in Johnston.