Smithson, Mary Helen

Mary Helen Smithson, 92, died at the Hiawatha Care Center in Hiawatha on June 16, 2013. A visitation and service will be held Saturday morning at Murdock Funeral Home in Perry.

Mary Helen Smithson was born in Perry to Edith and Paul Schuhardt. She married Leonard J. Smithson in Grant City, Mo., in 1939. They had three children: Judith, Leland and Craig.

Mary Helen loved to cook and bake, which was a source of pleasure, as well as the thread that connected her varied roles over her working career. She especially enjoyed being owner/operator of Mary Helen's Koffee Kup diner in Perry. In 1962, they moved to Sherburn, Minn. Over the years, Mary Helen held a variety of leadership roles in the Girl Scouts and the Boy Scouts, the American Legion, VFW Auxiliary, and her local Methodist Church.

After retiring, they lived in Mesa, Ariz., for 28 years before moving to Keystone Cedars in Cedar Rapids. Mary Helen made Keystone her home for 7½ years.

While in Arizona and in Cedar Rapids, she pursued many craft skills, and made angels which she shared with all her friends. She developed her art of letter writing and stayed in contact with dozens of lifelong friends. She loved playing any card game and eagerly learned computer skills.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Craig Dennis; and her husband, Leonard.

She is survived by her brother, Leland Schuhardt of Perry; her daughter, Judith Ann Smithson-Hilkin (Jim) of Burlington; her son, Leland John (Peggy) Smithson of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren: John (Ruby) Barnes, Des Moines; Jill Barnes Myers, Elkhorn, Wis.; Kimberly (Rod) Petersen, Columbia, Mo.; and Carrie (Matt) Gray, Cedar Rapids; eight great-grandchildren, Jordan and Jenna Myers, Morgan, Caroline and Elizabeth Petersen; Alyssa, Lauren and Adam Gray. Those fortunate to meet Mary Helen became her friend for life.

Memorials may be made in Mary Helen's name to Iowa Hospice, 1245 First Ave. SE., Cedar Rapids, IA 52402.

Published July 18, 2013 in The Gazette