Mary Chester

Mary A. Chester, 65, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Thursday, April 23, 2015, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

She was born March 1, 1950, in Des Moines, Iowa, the daughter of George Richard "Dick" and Marilyn (Temple) Struthers. Mary was a graduate of Everly high school, Everly, Iowa.

During her youth, Mary spent every summer and many holidays on the Century Farm, south of Atlantic, with her aunt and uncle, Leo and Ida Eagen.

Mary was united in marriage to John Chester on May 24, 1992, during a backyard ceremony at their home.

Mary will be remembered for her many years working as a bartender, owning and operating the White Rose Inn with her mother, Marilyn, and her sister, Rebecca. She also worked at the Ben Franklin store, Meader Distributing and Sears.
She enjoyed golf, music, dancing and shopping. Mary was an avid bowler and was a member of the National Women's Bowling League and the US Bowling Congress. She also loved spending time with her family, grandchildren and friends. Some of her fondest memories were the vacations spent in South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Mary is survived by her husband, John of Atlantic; son, Chris Droll of Atlantic and 2 daughters, JeenLee McAlpin and fiancé Matt Nielsen of Exira, and Meagan Dillon and husband Anthony of Atlantic; her grandchildren, Katelin Mary, Hunter Lee and Crew McAlpin and Deagan Dillon; sister, Rebecca Clarken; nephew, Jacob Clarken; sister in law, Judy Debord and her husband Larry and their children; cousins, Mary Nickel of Des Moines, Doug and Marilyn Nickel and children of Greenfield, Iowa and Judy and Larry Phippen of Atlantic.

She was preceded in death by her parents, George Richard "Dick" and Marilyn Struthers and step-father, Russ Tanoff; aunts, Ida Eagen and her husband Leo and Nila Nickel and cousin Beth Ann, many close friends and loved ones.

A celebration of Mary's life will take place on Friday, May 15, 2015, from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the Alley Restaurant, part of the Super Bowl, in Atlantic, Iowa. Stop in, say hi to the family, and have a drink and snack in remembrance of Mary.