Duncombe, Maryester (MacInnes)

Maryester (MacInnes) Duncombe, 89, of Marion, died Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha of old age. Memorial services: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17, at Marion Free Methodist Church, by the Rev. Del Bear. Per Mary's wishes, there will be no visitation. Arrangements by Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion.

“Marydee” was born Jan. 16, 1921, in Mansonville, Quebec, Canada, after her parents arrived there from Edinburgh, Scotland. They came to the U.S. when Mary was 2 and her brother, David, 5 months. She attended three high schools in four years, from a small one in Union, N.J., to a huge one with seven buildings in New York City.

From the age of 8, Mary was involved with the theater: in New Jersey, New York City and later in the Cedar Rapids area. In New York, she had the honor of being invited to become a member of the American Actors Company. Vocationally, in New York, she rose from a file clerk to an assistant office manager within nine years. On Oct. 15, 1945, Mary and Bill Duncombe were married in Pasco, Wash., while Bill was in the Navy Air Service. Their son, Kevet, was born later in New Jersey. They moved to Marion, Iowa in 1961.

In the Cedar Rapids area, Mary worked at Iowa National (beginning in 1967), then KLWW Radio, followed by WMT Radio as a continuity writer. Following that, she became activity director at then Americana Health Care Center (later ManorCare) until retirement in 1986. From the 1960s on, Mary performed with the Cedar Rapids Community Theater, now known as Theatre Cedar Rapids. Five favorites were John Brown's Body, Spoon River Anthology, Blithe Spirit, Raisin in the Sun and Romeo and Juliet. She was an active member of Altrusa Club of Cedar Rapids (later Circle of Rubles) and Zeta Phi Eta (a speech arts sorority). After retirement, she especially enjoyed volunteer work, including teaching reading to adults.

She is survived by her son, Kevet (Sandy) Duncombe of Crystal, Minn.; and David's wife, Pamela, and their son, Ramsey.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, David and Esther MacInnes; Bill Duncombe;and her brother, David.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to Theatre Cedar Rapids, Habitat for Humanity, the Marion Food Pantry, or a charity of your choice in Mary's memory.

Please sign the online guestbook for Mary at  under obituaries.