Mavis Sheely

MAVIS DARLENE (SPARRGROVE) SHEELY

Cedar Rapids

Mavis Darlene (Sparrgrove) Sheely, 86, of Cedar Rapids, passed into the Lord's hands on Friday, June 2, 2017, at her home surrounded by her family and friends.

Mavis was born Dec. 14, 1930, in Johnson County, to Charles and Rosa (Gladwin) Sparrgrove. She was the youngest of eight children. In her early years, the family moved to Prairieburg, Iowa. Mavis graduated from Central City High School in 1948, where she played the clarinet in the band and made wonderful memories with her high school friend, Dora Wall. After graduation, she came to the big city of

Cedar Rapids and worked for H&W Trucking. In November 1949, Mavis married Francis J. Sheely of Coggon at Saint John's Catholic Church in Coggon. This began a

64-year adventure of raising 11 daughters, going to many garage sales, ironing white blouses every Sunday night for the school week, waiting for the pep bus to come back at 11 p.m. in a blizzard and then the special times of seeing 24 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren born. Mavis and Francis so enjoyed traveling across the United States to visit all of these grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Alaska, Florida, Nebraska, Texas, Oregon and Iowa.

Mavis's favorite things to do were the daily crossword puzzle, crocheting, reading, taking pictures of birds, having a cup of coffee with her neighbors, visiting a casino every once in a while and, best of ALL, traveling with Francis, as they never got lost.

Mavis was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Francis, (2014); daughters, Cheryl Croy, (2017), and Janet Johnson, (2007); infant son, John; a granddaughter and grandson; and siblings, Marie Stanton, Floyd Husted, Al Husted, Wilma Robinson and Evelyn Connor.

Mavis is survived by her daughters and their families, Marcia and Edward Engel of Ely, Patricia and Curt Sheely-Adolphson of San Antonio, Texas, Michelle Sheely of Cedar Rapids, Kristine and David Heeren of Bloomfield, Jacqueline and Dave Patterson of Ladora, Carleen and Jay Kirkland of Springfield, Ore., Angela and Dave Kern of Johnston, Roberta and Paul Cisar of Bellevue, Neb., and Melinda and Tod Keiffer of Crestview, Fla.; son-in-law, Ronald Croy of Phoenix, Ore.; son-in-law, Mark Johnson of Cedar Rapids; 24 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; brother, Charles, and sister-in-law, Virginia Sparrgrove of Strawberry Point; sister, Marvel Hill of Marion; sister-in-law, Bernadine Smith of Phoenix, Ariz.; and her special friends/neighbors for over 50 years, Kris Stevens, Hank and Bev Burt, and Dave and Sandy Fisher.

Mavis's family would like to extend a special warm "thank-you" to the Hospice of Mercy staff who gave their support and assistance with a peaceful transition. Your support allowed us to stay close as a family, as we have always been, until the very end and we thank you (Kay, Christa, Kim, Jennifer, Lisa, Beth and Rebecca). To Sister Mary Fran Michalec of Saint Ludmila Catholic Pastoral Ministry, thank you for all of your support.

The family has chosen to set up a memorial in Mavis' name at a later date.

Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Tuesday at Saint Ludmila Catholic Church by Father Dennis Juhl. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home East, 1228 Second St. SE and after 9 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Interment will be at St. John's Cemetery with a luncheon following in the church hall.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.papich-kubafs.com under obituaries.