Mary Helen Murray, 88, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at The Mayflower Community in Grinnell, IA, after a brief battle with cancer. A visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at McLaren’s Resthaven Chapel in West Des Moines. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 18, 2024 at McLaren’s with burial at Resthaven Cemetery at a later date.
Mary was born May 25, 1935 in Des Moines, Iowa. After graduating high school from Saint Joseph Academy, she married John McClelland. They went on to own a grocery store on the south side of Des Moines as well as a Dairy Queen. They were foster parents, adopted two children, and then had two boys of their own. When the kids reached school age, she went to work at UPS as a cashier and did so for 20+ years.
Mary loved her family immensely and that included her children’s friends as well. She knew when we were in need, sometimes before we did. Mary wasn't able to attend church but she watched Des Moines Fellowship online for many years. She also attended bible study with Teri until she moved away and then attended on Zoom. The move took her to the Mayflower Community in Grinnell where she made many friends that she had lunch with every day. Mary helped out in the Mayflower library once a month and enjoyed many books from there. Mary loved quilts and sewing costumes for her grandchildren. Then she discovered fleece!! She had a "fleece clothing line" coveted by many. Some jackets and pants were adorned with kittens, Star-wars, Iowa Hawkeyes, Denver Broncos, elephants and Disney. Elephants were her favorite thing to collect. She loved all holidays, Christmas, Easter, Independence Day, birthdays, and seasons were a time for decorating. She always said, "Life is too short!" Have fun! She knew how to have fun.
Left to cherish Mary's memory are her children, Leonard (Teri) Murray, Loria Murray, Teri (Bob) McClelland Riley, Greg (Kim) McClelland, Larraine Murray, Patrick (Cindy) McClelland, Mike (Mindy) McClelland; twelve grandchildren, Stephanie, Ben, Katlin, Kallie, Niki, Geddy, Kyle, Kody, Kacy, Jessica, Becca, Mikey, Max, Kenzie and seven great-grandchildren.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Frank Murray; and first husband, John McClelland.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the service staff at the Mayflower Community of Grinnell that took such good care of Mary or the Grinnell Police Officer Association.
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