Mary E. Terry, 71, of Marcus, Iowa passed away on Friday, June 27, 2014 at Happy Siesta Care Center in Remsen, Iowa. Funeral services will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 3, 2014 at the Earnest – Johnson Funeral Home in Marcus. Hospice Chaplain Marie Lykken will officiate. Burial will follow at the Marcus Amherst Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at the Earnest – Johnson Funeral Home with the family present to greet friends from 5-7 p.m. Visitation will resume at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.

Mary Ellen Terry was born on January 11, 1943 in Marshall County, Iowa to Emery Jack and Ruth (Luthi) Benson. The family moved to Cherokee, Iowa where Mary attended grade school and graduated from Washington High School. After her formal education, Mary took a nursing position at the state mental health facility in Cherokee. She moved to Storm Lake, Iowa and went to work for Vilas (later Valmar) Processing.

In 1973, Mary and Donald James Terry, Sr. were united in marriage at Early, Iowa. They made their home in Marcus, Iowa. Mary worked at Aalfs manufacturing in Le Mars, Iowa as a seamstress. She later worked at K-Products in Orange City, Iowa. Donald passed away suddenly on September 25, 1977. Mary transferred to the K-Products plant in Marcus after it was completed. She retired on January 11, 2005.

Mary enjoyed watching westerns, especially John Wayne. In addition to raising her children, Mary’s passion at home was caring for her dogs.

She will be lovingly remembered by her children, Katie Ellen Nelson of Le Mars, Iowa and Donald James Terry, Jr. of Marcus, Iowa; a sister, Clara Kistenmacher and her husband Lauren of Holstein, Iowa; a brother, Walter Jerry Benson of Belmond, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald; an infant brother, Raymond and twin brother, Larry.

Memorials may be directed to Hospice of Siouxland or Happy Siesta Care Center.