Mary Chantry

Mary Ann Chantry went to be with her Lord on Monday, April 27, 2015 at Heritage House, Atlantic, IA at the age of 86. Her family was blessed to be at her side at the time of her death.

Mary Ann was born at home August 1, 1928, near Hebron, IA, in Adair County, the daughter of Carl and Opal (Binns) Busch. Growing up during the Depression (1929-1939) the family moved more than a dozen times. She graduated from Casey High School in 1945 at the top of her class at the age of 16. After graduation she worked at the Rural Electric Association office in Greenfield. She married Francis James (Jim) Chantry Feb. 10, 1949, after he returned from serving in the Navy. They moved and rented 16 different homes from the time they were married in 1949 until 1964. They moved to Atlantic in 1960 and she resided in Atlantic until her death.

She was very active in the Atlantic Methodist Church. Women's Circle meetings, young couples group, singing in the Chancel Choir, Cantatas, playing hand bells, playing piano when needed, helping with Sunday School classes, working at the Clothes Closet, joining in the mission afternoons, and serving as UMW Treasurer. She also enjoyed giving of her time and talents to Heritage House Guild, playing piano at Heritage House, Christian Women United, Cass County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary, playing piano for the American Legion meetings and participating with the Cass County Republican Women. She worked at Publisher News for 3.5 years; Walnut Grove for 3 years and in the Cass County Auditor's office for almost 25 years, retiring in 1995. She was a resident of Heritage House from 2010 until her death.

Mary Ann is survived by her five children: Steven (Patricia) Chantry of Fredericka, DE; Roger (Peg) Chantry of Davey, NE; Sheryl (Dale) Sunderman of Atlantic, IA; Carla (Mark) Lyons of Iowa City, IA; and Lisa (Douglas) Gard of Lincoln, NE; stepson Michael Chantry, Placerville, CA; fourteen grandchildren: Laura (Steve) Peretiatko, Brian (Sarah) Chantry; Helen (Rich) Linhart Jr., Linda (John) May, Roger Dean Jr. (Sarah) Chantry, Christy (Stanley) Mlotek, Michael Chantry; Tony (Crystal) Sunderman, Tim (Julie) Sunderman; Tim (Dawn) Lyons, Joni Chantry, Alicia (Steve) Short; James (Sheila) Gard, Kyle Gard; thirty-one great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; sister, Carolyn Steele of Anita, IA; sister-in-law, Joyce Busch of Omaha, NE; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Opal Busch; husband, James Chantry (1986); two sons in infancy; brother, Gerald Busch; brothers/sisters-in-law: William Steele, Doug and Fran Winters, Doug and Doris Brown, William Davis.

Visitation with family will be from 8:30 - 10:30 a.m., with a funeral starting at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 2, 2015, at the First United Methodist Church in Atlantic, Iowa. Burial will be in the Atlantic Cemetery.