Mary Gunn
April 1, 1928 ~ May 4, 2015
Mary Gunn, 87, of Mount Vernon, died on Monday, May 4, 2015, at St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids. Memorial Services: 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2015, at Lisbon United Methodist Church, by 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, Arkansas, Julie Thomas of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Jay (Nannette) Gunn of Mount Vernon; six grandchildren; and ten great grandchildren.
Mary was born April 1, 1928, in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Ross and Dorothea (Kinloch) Sheley. She grew up in a loving home in Maywood, Illinois, graduating from Proviso Township High School in 1946. On February 14, 1948, she married John James Gunn, Sr. in Bellwood, Illinois. 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.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
When Tim and Katie married we knew he was special and a good man. Then we met Grandma and Grandpa Gunn and could see where that strong foundation originated. She was quite a character but clearly a matriarch none the less. She boasted of seeing life through her rose colored glasses but she was very savvy to the world, articulate and just down right smart. She seemed to always choose to see the cup half full. Together, she and Jim have always shown nothing but love and kindness to their family and those of us who think of them as family. She will be dearly missed but not forgotten by anyone, I suspect, that was fortunate enough to have known her as a friend.
Our prayers go to all of her family but most of all to Jim. They will be together again. Until then, the strong and faithful family they raised will get one another through this.
Our love and heartfelt sympathy-
Gwen and Bill
Mary was a special lady at school always said hello to you in the hallway. She will be missed by all who knew her. Brenda Smith
Mrs Gunn was a wonderful person. She always had humor and love in her heart!! I am lucky to say I was picked to spend many hours of my High school years in her company. She taught me, and treated me so kind!! I will miss her!!
Kathy Light Harmer
Mrs Gunn was such a neat and kind soul. I remember that she made me an “honorary” librarian during awards night because it never fit into my schedule to become one and she wanted me to feel included. It is that kind of sweetness that I always cherished about her. What an example to others. My thoughts and prayers are with the family as they walk in grief. KaraJane Curl
We have so many special memories of Mary and Jim when they would come to Arkansas to visit Julie and family. It was so delightful to visit with Mary & Jim. Mary was so positive even when her health was failing. I loved receiving the creative and interesting Christmas letters when she would tell about all their many activities and updates on the grandchildren and the greats. Mary will be greatly missed by all who were blessed to know her. Prayers from Tom and I to all of Mary’s family.
Jim , John, Julie and Jay and families – just wanted to say that our family is thinking about you all and that we wanted to say how sorry we are for your loss. I’m heading to Seattle this afternoon so will be unable to attend the service on Thursday. Once again please accept our sympathy and prayers.
Larry and the rest of the Petrick family
I enjoyed working with Mary at Lisbon Schools from 1975 to 1985. As a school administrator you need someone to confide in and to use as a sounding board for issues that would arise. Mary always was willing to listen and I respected her opinions. She also was very supportive of me over the years. My wife, Karen, and I enjoyed her and Jim socially. She also was an outstanding role model for our students
Jim and Karen Steffen.
On behalf of St. Luke’s Volunteer Services, I want to thank Mary for her donation of time and talents to our hospital. Over the years she spent 2,352 hours keeping us more organized in her role with Medical Records. What a generous gift.
Blessings to her family.
My Memory of Mrs. Gunn goes back to 1970. She was the Librarian at Lisbon and I was in 4th grade. I loved to read and she always had some books ready for me to look at. She opened my mind and she always had time for me. And before we moved away, she told me “Pammy make sure you work in the Library in School”. I always wanted to tell her I kept that promise from 9th-12th grade. She was a Sweet Lady, a Great Inspiration and a ” Special Teacher” that I will remember always. My Deepest Sympathy to the Family.
I was lucky enough to be a student librarian under Mrs. Gunn from 1985-1987, and I have SO MANY wonderful memories of working with her, helping the elementary children, checking out books when the classes visited, even reading shelves/shelving books, and most of all, the “Librarian Parties.” I think of her often when I see Mrs. Gunn’s cookbook in my kitchen cabinet, or I catch a glimpse of the librarian quilt square she sewed for my graduation quilt. Mrs. Gunn was a very special person, and she will be missed by everyone who knew her.
Gunn Family, I have been blessed to know Mary and Jim for a very long time. Mary was a wonderful friend who was always willing to go that extra mle. Enjoyed her at Lisbon School as well as church. You have my deepest sympathy and are in my prayers. May God wrap his loving arms around you and give you peace with her passing. She will be missed buy all that knew her.
I was so saddened to hear of Mary’s passing, she was a huge part of my life for many, many years. She taught me so many things and broadened my thinking and understanding. It was all about family with Mom Gunn. I fondly reflect on the many fishing trips to Minnesota, and especially our adventure in Northern Canada. She was a grand lady and an overall sweet and loving person, and one heck of a pinochle player. Goodness the hours we spent around the table playing that game such an enriching time. I will greatly miss her, she was solely responsible for rekindling my passion for reading. To all of the family I send my deepest condolences and sympathy.
Ray Thomas
We were so sorry to hear of Mary’s passing. As I write you are gathered together for her service. I wish I could be there with you but instead have paused to pray for your comfort at this moment. Though Mary was my first cousin she always seemed more like an aunt to me. I remember her as a wonderful hostess. She had the ability to make one feel at home and always served delicious Iowa meals. I have warm memories of each visit beginning with a several day stay with John up to the last stop that Joyce and I made in ’06. My love to all of you. Paul
Mary was a neighbor and one of the local people, with husband Jim, and son Jay (and his family), who were appreciated characters in my life in Mt. Vernon. In her good heart she changed my life on October 27, 1983 (for good reasons). Bless you and thank you Mary.