Mary Ellen Stewart

Mary Ellen Stewart

AGE: 76 • Iowa City, IA

Mary Ellen Stewart, 76, of Iowa City died suddenly at her home on Saturday, January 23, 2016.

A private family remembrance will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be sent for her family through Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City, IA at www.gayan dciha.com.

Mary Ellen was born October 24, 1939, in Wilmington, Delaware. Here she attended and graduated from PS DuPont High School. She then attended and graduated from University of Delaware and later received her PhD in Biochemistry from Purdue University. Upon receipt of her degree, she spent a couple of years abroad in Malaysia, then returned to Boston University for several years before joining the faculty of the University of Iowa in Iowa City as a research scientist. She was associated with the University of Iowa for over thirty years before her retirement. Outside of her research life, she enjoyed home sewing and quilting, all of her cats inside and out, was a avid reader of various subjects, and for years has been passionately learning the Chinese language.

Her family includes a sister and her husband, Sylvia and John Smrz and brother, Timothy Stewart all living in Delaware. She was preceded in death by her parents, and a brother, Joseph Stewart.