Grace Mary Beck

Funeral services for Grace Mary Beck, age 83, of Lenox, who died Thursday, October 18, 2012 at the Hospice House in Creston will be held Monday, October 22, 2012 at 11:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Lenox. Visitation will be held Sunday, October 21, 2012 from 4:00 p.m. To 7:00 p.m. at the Ritchie Funeral Home in Lenox, IA. Burial will be held at a later date. Memorials can be directed to the family at this time. Memories can be shared with the family at www.ritchiefuneralhome.com under Obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Lenox. Grace Mary Callison was born in Newton, Iowa on August 20, 1929. She was the oldest daughter of Donald and Grace (Shenton) Callison. She attended schools in Newton, Altoona, and graduated from Allerton High School. After graduation, Mary began working for the Bell Telephone Company in Des Moines, IA as a telephone operator. Her father pastored a church near Clearfield, IA where she met Wayne Beck. They married on August 22, 1948. Mary and Wayne moved to Lenox where she then started working for the Hughes Law Firm. Later they moved to the Family Farm in Ringgold County where she enjoyed helping Wayne as a farm wife. Four daughters were born into this union: Trudy, Nancy, Peggy, and Mary Lou. Mary enjoyed her gardening and helping with the huge strawberry patch and apple orchard. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Lenox and an active member of the Calvary Neighborhood Club. Mary was known for her sense of humor, beautiful hand painted ceramics, a wonderful cook in the kitchen, and her love for animals. One of Mary and Wayne's favorite pass times were going to western dances. She loved watching golf and football, the Iowa Hawkeye's, sewing, Elvis Presley and being a caregiver to several Lenox residents. She was also known to always be cheering for the "underdog." She will be greatly missed by all and remembered by all who knew and loved her. Mary is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, Wayne Beck of Lenox; her four daughters: Trudy (Terry) Weaver of Sharpsburg, IA, Nancy (N.L.) Pugh of Cameron, MO, Peggy (Tony) Althaus of Bellevue, IA, Mary Lou (Jim) Cabeen of Mason City, IA; twelve grandchildren; twenty-three great-grandchildren; her siblings: Don Callison, Caroline (Hank) Garner, George Callison; sister-in-law, Joan Callison; and many other friends and family. She is preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Grace Callison; brother, Jack Callison; granddaughter, Jennifer Jodine Wolfe.