She was born on January 24, 1945, in Marshalltown, IA, the daughter of Hazel and Bud Lancaster. On September 1, 1963, she married Dennis McCool at the Baptist Church in Marshalltown. Mary graduated from Marshalltown High. She worked for the Boone County School District for over 20 years as a teacher’s assistant in the library at United School just outside of Boone. She loved working with the kids. Truth be told, it was very hard for her to retire.

To Mary, family was everything. She was a wonderful wife and mother to Michael and Christopher. She had eight grandkids and numerous great-grandkids.

She was survived by her husband, Dennis McCool, of Boone, IA; two sons, Michael, of South Carolina, and Christopher, of Minnesota; and sister, Donna, of Indiana.

Mary loved her family first. Springtime was her favorite season when the flowers were in bloom. Even though she would tell you she didn’t have a green thumb. Home was where she wanted to be. Especially when there was a good football or basketball game to watch. Her loving heart will be missed by all who knew her.

Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 16, 2023, at Schroeder-Stark-Welin Funeral Home in Boone. Interment will be at Squire Boone Cemetery in Boone County following the funeral service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family to use at their discretion.

Online condolences can be left at www.schroederfuneral.com

Schroeder-Stark-Welin Funeral Home, 515-432-4550.