Mae Margaret Gittins

Mae Margaret Gittins, the daughter of Richard Louis and Dorothy Mae (Youngman) Hiatt, was born December 27, 1928, at her parents’ farm home in rural Bethany, Missouri and died August 4, 2015, at the Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 86 years, 7 months, and 7days.
Margaret was baptized and confirmed as an adult at the Gray United Methodist Church in Gray, Iowa. She began her education at country school in Harrison County, Missouri then attended Bethany High School graduating with the Class of 1946 as the Class Valedictorian. Margaret studied at the Chillicothe Business School graduating in 1947. She moved to Guthrie Center, Iowa where she was employed as a secretary-bookkeeper for the Howard Randolf Produce.
On October 10, 1948, she was united in marriage to Leroy (Roy) Dean Gittins at the Methodist Church in Guthrie Center, Iowa. Three children Linda, Rex, and Clay were born to this union. In August of 1949 Roy and Margaret moved to Gray, Iowa to manage the Gray Produce which they purchased in 1950. Margaret was the secretary-bookkeeper for the Gray Produce and Feed until they closed the business in 1980. She also served as the Town of Gray Treasurer for many years until she retired. Roy died on February 25, 2003. Margaret enjoyed her home for several years then moved to the Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa on July 27, 2015.
Margaret was a member of the Gray United Methodist Church in Gray, Iowa and served as the Church Financial Recording Secretary for 63 years. She was an avid reader and enjoyed her flower garden and watching the many species of birds. But most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Margaret was preceded in death by her husband Roy D. Gittins; her grandson Wyatt Gittins; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Violet and husband Charles Oberholtz, Bernard Gittins, Delores and husband Ron Diggins, Colleen Hiatt, and Arlene Hiatt.
Survivors include her children; Linda and husband Paul Wendl of Panora, Iowa, Rex and wife Jody Gittins of Wahoo, Nebraska, and Clay and wife Mary Gittins of Rockwell City, Iowa; her grandchildren Aaron Wendl of Middletown, Ohio, Samuel and wife Cassie Wendl of Panora, Iowa, Shannon and husband Ron Hrubetz of Stuart, Iowa, Amber and husband Tim Danner of Woodward, Oklahoma, Kelsey and wife Sara Gittins of Des Moines, Iowa, Hayley Gittins of Rockwell City, Iowa, Brett Richardson of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Jayme Richardson and Matt Simmons of Overland Park, Kansas; her great grandchildren Zach Gliem, Katie Hrubetz, Ronnie Hrubetz, Erik Osmera, Alyvia Simmons, Kordell Simmons, Shaylyn Simmons, Loki Danner, Buddy Mak Danner, Clayton Wendl, and Cambria Gittins; her brothers and sisters Robert Hiatt of Bethany, Missouri, Charles Hiatt of Havre, Montana, Betty Paul of Glendale, California, and Judy Hiatt of New Orleans, Louisiana; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Pauline and husband Don Marion of West Des Moines, Iowa, Martha Gittins of Stuart, Iowa, and Reverend Gordon Gittins of Johnston, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends.
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Lori Shannon on Monday, August 10, 2015, at 10:30 A.M. at the Gray United Methodist Church in Gray, Iowa. Interment will be in the Gray Cemetery west of Gray, Iowa. The honorary casket bearers will be Wyatt Gittins, Russell Spies, Larry Kendle, Leon Schwab, Virgil Schmidt, and Larry Petersen. The casket bearers will be her grandchildren Shannon Hrubetz, Amber Danner, Aaron Wendl, Samuel Wendl, Kelsey Gittins, Hayley Gittins, Brett Richardson and Jayme Richardson. The family will meet with friends on Sunday afternoon, August 9, 2015 at 4:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa. The family prefers memorials to the Gray United Methodist Church.