Walston, Mary Frances

Mary Frances Walston, 79, of Waverly, Iowa, died Sunday, July 17, 2011, at Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo, from complications of breast cancer.

Mary was born Nov. 30, 1931, in Maryville, Mo., the daughter of Francis Leo and Vona Mae (Mack) Sherlock. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Maryville. Mary attended the Maryville school system, graduating in 1949, from the Maryville High School. She then attended business school in St. Joseph, Mo. On June 4, 1951, she was united in marriage to Marvin L. “Marv” Walston at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Maryville. Mary worked for the law office of Gene Thompson and Emmet Bartram in Maryville from 1950 to 1953. The couple then moved to Cedar Rapids, where Mary worked for the law office of Joe Day from 1960 to 1975. The couple then moved to Waverly, Iowa, where Mary worked for attorneys Bill Engelbrecht, Gary Boveia, Fran Johansen and Gerry Carney.

Mary was a faithful member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Waverly. In her spare time, she enjoyed reading, pinochle and playing bridge. Mary was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She dearly cherished the time spent with her family and friends.

She is survived by her loving husband of 60 years, Marvin Walston of Waverly; her two sons and their wives, Michael and Mary Walston of Kewaunee, Wis., and Dave and Cathy Walston of Waverly; six grandchildren, Amanda (Rich) DeGrave of Kewaunee, Wis., Cassie Walston (fiance Ben Ruoff) of Indianapolis, Ind., Betsy (Ryan) Roberts of Manitowoc, Wis., Darcie Walston of Copenhagen, Denmark, Jamie (Heather) Schurbon of Isanti, Minn., and Brett (Misty) Schurbon of Eugene, Ore.; five great-grandchildren, Aidan and Madeline DeGrave, Eli and Ethan Schurbon and Olivia Schurbon; and one brother and his wife, Norman and Beth Sherlock of Atchison, Kan.

Mary is also survived by her special friends, Dennis and Marcia Haugen of Waverly, Angela Haugen of Marshalltown, Aaron Haugen of Waverly, Rick and Jayne Hall and family of Waverly, and Rich and Kathy Curphy and family of Cedar Rapids.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary Catholic Church in Waverly, with the Rev. Mike Tauke presiding. Burial will be in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, Waverly. Public visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Waverly, where there will be a public Scripture service at 7 p.m.

Memorials may be directed to American Cancer Society (Breast Cancer Foundation) or St. Mary Catholic Church.

Online condolences for Mary's family may be left at .

Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Waverly is assisting the family. (319) 352-1187.