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Gilmore-Deke, Mary Martha
Mary Martha Gilmore-Deke, 62, of 1905 Hunters Creek Way, Marion, passed away Friday morning, March 19, 2010, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. The Rev. Greg Williamson will officiate. Entombment: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home, Cedar Rapids, and at the church after 9:30 a.m. Monday.
Survivors include her husband, Sonny; son, Mark Anthony Gilmore and friend Jennifer Gard of Phoenix; siblings, Virginia Sleeper of Independence, Jerald (Dixie) Smith of Waverly, Karen (Jim) Connell of Independence, Clifford (Pam) Smith of Burlingame, Kan., and Diane (John) Kurtz of Independence; stepdaughters, Sonda (Jeff) Maneman of Marion and Kamila Demuth and friend Robert Wells of Cedar Rapids; stepgrandchildren, Jacob, Ryan, Samuel and Cole; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Theodore and Lois Smith; first husband, Steve Gilmore; and a brother-in-law, George Sleeper.
Mary was born Sept. 23, 1947, in Independence, Iowa, to Theodore and Lois Anderson Smith. She graduated from Independence High School in 1965, and from Paris Academy of Beauty in Cedar Rapids. She moved to Phoenix in 1971, working in various areas of insurance claims. She married Steve Gilmore. They had a son, Mark, in 1974. In 2007, she moved to Marion, Iowa, and married Sonny Deke on June 30, 2007. She continued to work from her home until her retirement in September 2009. She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church and the American Legion Auxiliary. She volunteered at Mercy Medical Center and St. Luke's Hospital. She was an avid bowler and enjoyed gardening, traveling, and spending time with her family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 915 27th St., Marion, IA 52302, or to the charity of the donor's choice.
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