Mary Louise Wearin

Mary Louise Wearin, age 94, died in her sleep on October 19, 2009, in Louisville, CO at the Balfour Retirement Community. Mary Louise was born in Chicago, IL, on June 1, 1915, the fourth child of Winthrop Coolidge and Marie (Knowlton) Coolidge. She was a graduate of the University High Laboratory School in 1933 and attended the University of Chicago for three years. Her father owned and operated the Chicago Copper & Chemical Company in Blue Island, IL. As a child, Mary Louise spent many hours in creative play with her dear sister, Jane. The family spent summers near the beach at Michillinda, MI.

On January 29, 1938, she married a fellow U of C student, Josiah Foster Wearin, Jr. (Sy), of Malvern, IA, in the Bond Chapel on the campus. The couple resided for about a year in Malvern, and then moved to the home originally built by Sy's great grandmother northwest of Hastings, Iowa. She viewed the move from urban to rural life as a great adventure.

On the farm Mary Louise and Sy raised their four children, who were born over the course of 14 years. She gardened, landscaped, crafted rugs, assisted with many farm conservation activities, and was devoted to the education of her children. Mary Louise was active in the women's fellowship of the Malvern United Methodist Church, the P.E.O., and the Malvern Cub Scout pack. She had an insatiable curiosity and love of language and was an avid member of the local book club. Mary Louise was a gracious woman who held strong moral convictions. She had a keen sense of humor and was always optimistic. In the later years of their marriage, Mary Louise and Sy traveled extensively and enjoyed their grandsons' many visits to the farm.

Mary Louise and Sy had a long romance, which was interrupted only by his death on May 27, 1999. She continued to live on the farm until 2003, by which time memory loss dictated a move to safer quarters near daughter Priscilla in Colorado. Her life at Balfour was full of wonderful and patient caregivers.

Mary Louise was preceded in death by her husband Josiah, her two brothers, Winthrop Coolidge and Dexter Coolidge, her sister, Jane Stevens, and her daughter, Marie L. Twombly.

Mary Louise is survived by three children: Jane A. Lieb and her husband William M. Lieb, of Spirit Lake, IA; Priscilla W. Wagener and her husband Jeffrey S. Wagener, of Boulder, CO; and Josiah C. Wearin and his wife Karin A. Hofmann, of Hastings, IA. She is also survived by nine grandsons, who are the honorary pallbearers: Peter N. Twombly of Henniker, NH; Andrew W. Twombly of Libertyville, IL; Frederick S. Twombly, of Henniker, NH; Thad W. Lieb, of Redwood City, CA; Derek W. Lieb, of Boulder, CO; Josiah W. Wagener, of Newport News, VA; Graham K. Wagener, of Christchurch, New Zealand; Benjamin N. Wearin, of Ft. Drum, NY; and Nathan C. Wearin, of Ames, IA. Mary Louise was also blessed with many nephews, nieces, and great-grandchildren.

Cremation was provided by Crist Mortuary of Boulder, Colorado, and Iowa services will be arranged with the assistance of Mansfield-Hertz Funeral Home, Malvern, Iowa.

Memorials are suggested to Friends of the Malvern Public Library, UNICEF, the Malvern United Methodist Church or a charity of your choice.