Mary was born August 17, 1921, in Chesterfield, England, to Thomas and Elizabeth (Clayton) Wholey. She was the youngest of seven children. She attended Shirebrook Private Girls’ School. In 1939, she matriculated with an Oxford School Certificate. She became a governess to the Bishop of Halifax’s daughter. In 1941, she was conscripted into the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force and served four years in various stations in the British Isles. In July 1945, in Chesterfield, England, she was married to Warren Harvey of the U.S. Army. In 1946, they returned to Marshalltown. Mary was a “War Bride.” In marriage they raised nine children. Mary was a homemaker and loved to cook for family and friends. She enjoyed making jams and jellies. Her favorite dessert was “English Sherry Trifle” which she shared with her family and friends. She volunteered for her church in many capacities and visited members in nursing homes. Mary was a member of the Britannia Club which was open to all women born on English soil. She loved to knit and made many afghans for all her children and grandchildren. She always had an English garden with roses being her favorite. When her children were all raised, she went to work at the Iowa Veterans Home in the dietary department and enjoyed all the residents and the friends she met there.

Left to cherish her memory are daughters: Victoria (Jack) Smith, of Cheyenne, WY, Jacqueline (Tom) Martin, of Osage, IA, and Wendy (David) Hall, of Bartlesville, OK, and sons: Ken (Julie) Harvey, of Marshalltown, John (Tracy), of St. Anthony, IA, and Tim Harvey, of Marshalltown. She had 11 grandchildren, three step-grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Warren, daughter Elizabeth, sons David and Matthew, two brothers and four sisters.