Mary Jane Ross, 93, of Mt. Pleasant and formerly of Iowa City and Burlington, died Saturday, October 7, 2023 at Park Place Elder Living in Mt. Peasant.
Mary was born December 22, 1929, in Burlington, Iowa. She was the daughter of John Thomas and Myrtle Marie (Hines) Ross the eldest of three girls: Joann (Royal) Timmerman now both deceased, and Barbara (David) Gibbs (David deceased) of Burlington, Iowa.
Mary lost the use of her left leg in a bathing accident when she was but 5 years old, later half of that leg would be amputated and Mary would embrace her new freedom from crutches and wheelchairs. She married Daniel Mason Woolley in 1946. Together they would have four children and raise them in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado before returning to Iowa and divorcing. Her children are Daughter – Carolyn Ann Gross (John) of Iowa City, Iowa, now deceased; Son – Michael David Woolley of Glenwood Springs, Colorado; Son – Richard Lewis Woolley also of Colorado, now deceased and Daughter – Jeannine Marie Christner (Todd) of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa
Mary is also survivied by eight grandchildren – Ted Detrick, Jason Gross, Kelly Wallace, Jennifer Garland, Heather Hammer, Christina Feehan, Danny Woolley, and Jordan Woolley. From these eight grandchildren Mary received 16 Great Grandchildren living in California, Colorado, Minnesota, Maryland, and Iowa. Mary is now a Great Great Grandmother to 4 little ones all living in the Mt. Pleasant area. These are just the beginning of the next generation.
Mary loved children and spent most of her life caring for them. Family photo albums were filled with not just her children and grandchildren’s pictures but all the children she cared for in her home daycare that she operated for 20+ years in Iowa City. These children were all as much her family as any of her grandchildren.
In the late 1970s Mary had a born-again experience in her home. From that day on she held Jesus as her Savior and told as many as would listen about Jesus and her experience. Mary was a member of the Parkview Church in Iowa City, Iowa until she was unable to drive or find a ride.
A memorial service for Mary will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 28th at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 N. Main St., Mt. Pleasant. Chaplain Gordon Hawkins of EveryStep Hospice will officiate. The family will be present to greet friends 1 hour prior to the service.