Mary Gunn

MARY GUNN

Mount Vernon

Mary Gunn, 87, of Mount Vernon, died Monday, May 4, 2015, at St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids. Memorial services: 1 p.m. Thursday, May 7, at Lisbon United Methodist Church by the Rev. Tom Mattson. Private inurnment: Campbell Cemetery. Arrangements are by Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Mount Vernon.

Survivors include her husband of 67 years, Jim; children, John Gunn Jr. of Jacksonville, Ark., Julie Thomas of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Jay (Nannette) Gunn of Mount Vernon; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Mary was born April 1, 1928, in Chicago, Ill., the daughter of Ross and Dorothea (Kinloch) Sheley. She grew up in a loving home in Maywood, Ill., graduating from Proviso Township High School in 1946. On Feb. 14, 1948, she married John James Gunn Sr. in Bellwood, Ill. Mary attended Cornell College and graduated from University of Iowa in 1970, where she also did graduate work in library science. She spent a year as a teacher at the Lisbon Community School then was the school librarian from 1971-90.

Mary was a member and elder at the Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church, past member of the American Library Association, American Association of School Librarians, Iowa Educational Media Assocation and the Friday Bridge Club. She also enjoyed volunteering with the Meals on Wheels program and St. Luke's Hospital.

After retirement, Mary and Jim traveled extensively across North America making it to all 50 states and the Canadian provinces. Mary also made several voyages to international destinations.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, John Sheley.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Lisbon Community School Library or the Lisbon-Mount Vernon Ambulance Fund.

Please share your support and memories with Mary's family on her tribute wall at www.stewartbaxter.com under obituaries.