Mary Ellen Stice

Mary Ellen (Hushaw) Stice, born April 10, 1927, died peacefully October 22, 2012, at Willapa Harbor Care Center in Raymond, Wash., after a short illness.

She is survived by her son, Ralph F. (and Betsy) Brock, of Westport, Wash.; step daughters, Peg Stice (and Brice Adams), of Bloomington, Ind. and Nancy (and Skip) Neilson, of Houston, Texas; and by four grandchildren, Colin Brock, Elizabeth Brock, Erica Neilson, Andrea Neilson; and by one great grandchild.

The daughter of Fred Hushaw and Ida Servoss Hushaw, Mary was preceded in death by her first husband, Ralph I. Brock, (in 1962); by her second husband of 41 years, W.R. "Bill" Stice, (in 2007); and by three sisters and two brothers.

Mary was a native of Council Bluffs, and attended St. Peter's Elementary School and Abraham Lincoln High School, graduating in 1945. During high school, Mary worked at her father's store, Hushaw Drug, which was located for many years on the corner of Willow and Main St. After graduation, Mary worked for the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company, until 1948. In November of 1948, Mary married Ralph I. Brock, of Omaha, Neb., where they lived and had one son, until 1962, when Mr. Brock was killed in an automobile accident. Mary returned to work at the phone company for several years. In April, 1966, Mary married Bill Stice, a widower with two daughters. Joining their families, they lived happily together in Omaha, Fremont, Lincoln, and Kearney, Neb., until 1994, when Bill retired from his lifelong career in the insurance business. At that time, they decided to move back to Council Bluffs to finish out their years.

During her life, Mary enjoyed supporting her husband, Bill, by volunteering in many community related activities. Perhaps the organization most dear to their hearts was the Council Bluffs Senior Center, where they spent many happy hours socializing and volunteering.

In view of this close connection, the family requests that any memorial gifts be directed to: The Council Bluffs Senior Center, Attn: Tom Jenson - Mary Stice Memorial, 714 S Main St., Council Bluffs, Iowa, 51503. In her final years, Mary took spiritual comfort in returning to her Catholic roots.

No services will be held. A Celebration of Life is planned for next year in conjunction with a family reunion, (time and place TBA). Messages of Condolence can be mailed to: Ralph Brock, P.O. Box 3022, Westport, Wash., 98595.

This obituary was originally published in The Daily Nonpareil.