Fry, Dorothy Mildred Waring

Dorothy Mildred Waring Fry, 102 years young, passed away Monday, Oct. 8, 2012, at Willow Gardens Care Center in Marion, where she lived the last two months of her life. Memorial services are still pending. Arrangements by Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Marion.

Dorothy Mildred Waring was born Sept. 6, 1910, on a farm between Edgewood and Strawberry Point and was the daughter of Charles Waring and Lillie Ann Halstead Waring. She was a confirmed member of Strawberry Point United Methodist Church. On Feb. 21, 1928, at the Edgewood United Methodist Church she was united in marriage to Harry William Fry of Greeley, Iowa. To this union one daughter was born, Marjoria Mae Fry McCarty, currently of Hiawatha. From 1928 through 1948 the family farmed around the Edgewood area. They moved to Strawberry Point in 1949 and then she moved to Hiawatha in 2007, where she lived with her daughter. She worked in the Strawberry Point Community School system as a cook and janitor during the summer months and helped start Starmont High School, where eventually she would retire from cooking. She also worked at various businesses and as a house cleaner in the Strawberry Point and Arlington area in the 50s through the 70s. She became a die-hard Cubs fan in 1928 until her death and said that was one of her secrets to such a long life.

Survivors include her daughter, Marjoria and granddaughter, Rebecca Darlene McCarty of Edgewood, N.M., who were by her side at her peaceful passing. She also leaves nieces and nephews; grandnieces and grandnephews; and great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews; and many friends near and dear to her.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years; both parents; her brother, Mervin; sister-in-law, Ruby Waring; sister, Inez; and grandson, John William McCarty II.

A special thanks to Linn County Home Care, St. Luke's Hospice and to all of the nurses, nurse aides and staff at Willow Gardens Care Center during her stay there. Thank You!

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Please sign the online guest book for Dorothy at under obituaries.

Published in The Gazette Oct. 10, 2012.