Mary Cecile Bean

MARY CECILE BEAN

Cedar Rapids

Mary Cecile Bean, 74, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018, at the Oldorf Hospice House in Hiawatha, Iowa.

There will be neither a funeral nor visitation.

Mary decided to forego both of these old traditional rites and simply be cremated and have her immediate family take her ashes to Orange Beach, Ala., to be spread upon the waters of the Gulf.

Her stated wish was: "I would like my friends to think of it this way; I would prefer that you remember me the way we were the last time we were together and not as I would have looked in a traditional viewing. If you want to, set aside a few moments to have a glass of wine and toast our good memories. That's the way I want to remember each of you along with all the fun, laughter and kindnesses we shared."

Mary was born on Nov. 21, 1943, in Manchester, Iowa, the daughter of Mildred and Cecil Koeneke. On Oct. 20, 1962, she was united in marriage to Douglas L. Bean, which marriage lasted until the moment of her passing, covering over 55 wonderful years.

Mary was involved in the hotel industry in various positions from the age of 15, when she began work at the Roosevelt Hotel in downtown Cedar Rapids. The following 50 years saw her working with the Ramada Inn, Holiday Inn, Sheraton Inn and Hampton Inns. Also during that time, she worked at the westside Panera, where she made many new friends.

Mary was a great hostess, and loved being challenged to provide an impromptu meal for short notice guests at home. She was renowned from Iowa to Alabama for her oatmeal cookies.

Mary loved to travel, and her travels took her to much of Western Europe, Canada, Mexico and Hawaii, and a good share of the United States, from California to Virginia, and from the Keys in Florida to many of the northern tier of states. Mary and her husband, Doug, always loved Iowa, but spent the last nine winters in Orange Beach, Ala., always staying until the weather warmed up at home.

She is survived by her husband, Doug Bean of Cedar Rapids; son, Craig (Sherry) Bean of Cedar Rapids; two grandchildren, Brittany (Patrick) O'Shea of Marshalltown and Brian Bean of Cedar Rapids; her sisters, Margaret Pohl of New Mexico and Roanna Stull of Cedar Rapids; three great-grandchildren; and her stepmother, Eleanor Koeneke, who raised her from a young child.

In lieu of flowers or memorials, please donate to a cancer research center of your choice.