Obituary of Mary D. Deeds

Mary D. Deeds, 56 of Iowa City died Wednesday, November 10, 2010, surrounded by her family at their home following a two year struggle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, November 13, 2010, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. Visitation will be from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday at the Calvary Cemetery in Ottumwa. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made in her memory to Iowa City Hospice. Online condolences may be sent for her family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Mary D. Swanson was born December 15, 1953, in Ottumwa, Iowa the daughter of Donald and Gwendolyn (Heady) Swanson. She attended schools in Ottumwa, graduating from Ottumwa High School in 1972. On September 26, 1981, she was united in marriage to Lyle H. Deeds in Ottumwa. The couple moved to Iowa City after their marriage. She has been employed by Hills Bank, formerly UniBank in Coralville for many years. Mary had many interest in life, foremost was her family who she loved dearly, followed by her work at the bank, often considering them her second family. She enjoyed camping outdoors, cross-stitching, reading, collecting anything to do with cats and Tweety-Birds, and of course her shopping, specifically for shoes! Her family includes her husband, Lyle; two children, Kelsey R. Deeds and Nolan L. Deeds; her mother, Gwendolyn Milligan (Leonard) of Ottumwa; siblings, David Swanson (Linda) of Urbandale; Rex Swanson (Jackie) of Omaha; Kristine Black (Chris) of Ottumwa, and Kelly Swanson (Sara) of Ottumwa; 6 nieces and nephews, and 6 great-nieces and nephews; and best not forget her cats, Whiskers and Wally. She was preceded in death by her father and a nephew. Mary’s family wishes to thank everyone for all the prayers, love and support over the past months, especially those from Iowa City Hospice, we will always remember! If ever there was ever needed a definition of courage and strength of character, it was silently demonstrated by Mary in her two year battle with cancer.