Mary Jemison

Mary J. Jemison

Mary J. Jemison

Mary J. Jemison
May 8, 1933 – July 24, 2016
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 83

Mary Jemison, 83, of Oskaloosa died July 24, 2016 at her home in Oskaloosa. Mary was born May 8, 1933, near Rose Hill, Iowa, the daughter of John and Ruth (Fridlington) Vande Kieft.

Mary attended grade school in St. Albans, West Virginia. Her family moved back from West Virginia to Tracy in March of 1947. Mary graduated as class valedictorian from Tracy High School on May 24, 1951.

While still in high school she began working at the D&P Lumber Yard in Tracy. She then took a job at Iowa Power and Light, now Mid-American Energy. Mary retired from Iowa Power and Light in the early 1990’s after 40 plus years of service.

On September 10, 1954 Mary was married to Pearle Eugene Smith of Albia, Iowa. They were married by Reverend Roger Braaten in the Presbyterian Church at Knoxville, Iowa. Mary was later married to James Jemison. Mary had three sons, Brian, Todd and Robert.

Mary was an active member of the First Christian Church, Order of the Eastern Star, and the American Legion Auxiliary.

She enjoyed reading, mushroom hunting, and playing dominos at church. She was also very active in restoring and preserving the Bellefountaine Cemetery near Tracy. Mary always looked forward to outings with the Iowa Power and Mid-American Energy fellow retirees. She delighted in spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She was also very close with her siblings and they enjoyed getting together for birthdays and special events.

Mary’s family includes her two sons: Todd (& Jennifer) Smith of Oakland, California and Bob Jemison (& Cari) of West Des Moines; ten grandchildren: Athena, Justin, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Alexis, Jordan, Abigail, Ashley, Lauren, and Claire; four great grandchildren; two sisters: Margaret Wilson of Newton and Dorothy Vande Kieft of Pella; a brother, Richard (& Judy) Vande Kieft of Cedar Falls; and many nieces and nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Brian Smith; and two sisters, Helen Deaton and Barbara Ray.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 30, 2016, at 10 a.m. in the First Christian Church in Oskaloosa with Reverend Andrea Brownlee officiating.
Burial will be in the Bellefountaine Cemetery near Tracy. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Visitation will begin Friday morning after 10 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel and the family will be at the funeral chapel from 5-7 Friday evening to greet friends and relatives.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Mary Jemison please visit our Sympathy Store.

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