Margery Phyllis Willett

MASON CITY - Margery Phyllis Willett, 88, of The Willows, 1000 N. Eisenhower Avenue, Apartment 203, died Tuesday (November 25, 2008) at the Oakwood Care Center in Clear Lake, Iowa.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, Nov. 29 at The First Presbyterian Church, 201 Willowbrook Drive with the Rev. Paul Collier officiating.

A graveside service for family and friends will be held at 10:30 am Saturday morning at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Friday, Nov. 28 at Major-Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue in Mason City.

Margery was born on Sept. 8, 1920, in Dayton, OH, the daughter of Paul M. and Florence M. (Myers) Wolf. After graduating from Morningside High School, Sioux City, IA, Margery graduated from Iowa State College of Science and Technology in 1942 with a degree in Home Economics and Food Services. Margerys early career was in Omaha, NE. She worked for the University of Nebraska as a dietician. She was proud of planning and preparing meals for the University of Nebraska football team. She worked for the Omaha Dairy Council during the 2nd World War. Later, she resumed her career as dietary director at the Heritage Home in Mason City. She then worked for and retired from Franklin General Hospital in Hampton as dietary nutritionist where she was instrumental in designing the kitchen for the new hospital. On Oct. 10, 1943, Margery married Don G. Willett in Central City, NE. To this union were born two daughters and three sons. A devoted mother and wife, Margery was always involved in her childrens activities serving in PTA and as a Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader. A member of the First Presbyterian church, she was a consummate volunteer in the Womens Circle and church rummage sales. Margery was a member of the Family and Consumer Sciences Graduates club, Second (Indian Head) Division Association Auxiliary, Universal Study Club, and the American Diabetes Association. She was a benefactor to many organizations including Alzheimer Disease Research and the National Wildlife Federation. Margery loved birds, concerts, and sharing lunch with her friends. She followed college sports with a special interest in football and basketball. As an ISU alumnus, Margery enjoyed the spirited rivalry with her Hawkeye friends. Those left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Linda Meetz and husband, Michael, of Ames, and Sandra Shiver and life partner, John Carleton, of Sherman, TX, sons, Bruce Willett of Clearwater, FL, Douglas Willett of Fairfield, and Thomas Willett of Mason City; granddaughter, Macy Wilson of Plano, TX; sisters Barbara Ayres and husband, Sam, of South Saint Paul, MN, and Jane Jones of Austin TX; many nieces and nephews; special friends. Preceding her in death were her husband; her parents; and parents-in-law, William G. and Maude G. (Sergeant) Willett.