Mary Palser

Mary Margaret Palser, was born in Hastings, Iowa on November 12, 1932. She was the daughter of Fred (Ted) Clark and Myrza Maxine (Shook) (Clark) Vanderpool. Mary was one of twelve children. She attended school in Hastings, IA, Armstrong, IA, Tarkio, MO, and Webster City, IA and graduated from Castana High School in Castana, IA in 1951. Following school, she worked as a nurse's aide in Sioux City, IA. Mary met Kenneth V. Carley while living in Sioux City and was married in Onawa, IA in 1955. They made their home in Sioux City and were blessed with a son Steven. The family then moved to Albuquerque, NM and were blessed with two more children, another son Daniel and a daughter Janet. Following Kenneth's death in February 1961, Mary and her family moved to Hastings, Iowa in order to be closer to her family.
Mary and Edgar E. Palser were united in marriage on September 13, 1963 in Tarkio, MO. They made their home in Hastings, IA where Gene was working construction in Omaha, NE. In October of 1964, Gene was hired as a section man at Emerson, IA for the CB & Q Railroad, now known as the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. Gene became a stepfather to Mary's three children and she became a stepmother to Gene's son, Clifford from a former marriage. Clifford came to live with the family from 1976 to 1978, following the death of his mother. Mary and Gene's marriage was also blessed with a son Edgar, Jr.
Mary and Gene were very active in the community and were members of the Hastings United Methodist Church, both leaders of UMYF, the Hastings Board of Directors, and the Nishna Valley Parish Council. Mary served as president of the Hastings United Methodist Women and was one of the persons responsible for starting the Every Member Visitation program at the Hastings Church. This led to winning the Guideposts Church Award in 1979 and a visit to the church by Dr. and Mrs. Norman Vincent Peale. She was president of the Hastings Cemetery Association and when all the children were at home, the family maintained the cemetery for nine years. Mary was Past Grand Noble of the Rebekah Lodge in Hastings and Gene was a Past Grand Noble of the I.O.O.F. Lodge. Gene served as Mayor of Hastings for three terms and started the Little League Baseball program in Hastings. The couple supported their children's activities both in the community and at school. Gene served as Boy Scout leader and Mary was a Cub Scout leader. The family loved the outdoors, mushroom hunting, fishing and hunting, camping, football, basketball and the Hastings Hornets Little League. Mary and Gene loved attending sporting events that involved their children and grandchildren, playing cards, and raising AKC English Springer Spaniels. Mary's other enjoyments included oil painting, crafts, reading and in later years watching her favorite TV channels, Home and Garden and TLC.
In November 1979, Gene was promoted to assistant road master for the railroad and was relocated to Creston, Iowa. While in Creston, Mary worked at the Creston News Advisor. After three years, Gene was again promoted and was transferred to West Quincy, MO. The family resided in Palmyra, MO until 1987 when they returned to Creston. Mary and Gene had been married almost 25 years when Gene died at the age of 54 on June 27, 1988 in Des Moines, IA. Mary had begun work at the Southern Iowa Residential Facility in 1987 and continued to work until 2002. She remained living in Creston until January 24, 2006 when she moved to Palmyra, MO. She died at her daughter Janet's home on February 22, 2006 at the age of 73 years, 3 months and 10 days. Mary was preceded in death by her parents Fred (Ted) Clark and Myrza Vanderpool; husbands Kenneth Carley and Edgar Palser; brother Earl Clark; sisters Deloris Wolfgram and husband Ed, LaDonna Tippery and husband Fred, Loretta VanHouse and Kaye Jamison.
Mary is survived by her children; Steven M. Carley of LaCrosse, WI, Daniel K. Carley and wife Mary of Pine, CO, Janet L. Madden and husband Joe of Palmyra, MO, Edgar E. Palser, Jr of Creston, IA, and step son Clifford C. Palser of Council Bluffs, IA; 12 grandchildren; two great grandchildren; four step grandchildren and three step great grandchildren; brothers Wayne Clark and wife Carol of Essex, IA, William (Bill) Vanderpool and wife Shirley of Council Bluffs, IA, Ben Vanderpool and Carolyn of Buffalo, MO, Dan Vanderpool and wife Jackie of Navarr, FL, Robert (Bob) Vanderpool and wife Diana of Glenwood, IA and Donald (Butch) Vanderpool and S/O Marilyn of Chariton, IA; brother-in-law Denny Jamison of Red Oak, IA; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials suggested to Hastings Cemetery Association.