Mary Kay Timmons

Mary Kay Timmons

Cedar Rapids

Mary Kay Timmons, née Benda, passed away peacefully of natural causes on March 13, 2026, at the age of 78. Born December 22, 1947, to Harry and Blanche Benda, she grew up in Toledo before moving to Tama. A graduate of South Tama High School, Mary Kay continued her education at Ellsworth Community College, where she attended their secretarial school, earning her associate's degree in 1967 and being crowned Homecoming Queen-a testament to her radiant charm and spirit as well as her natural beauty. She decided to change professions and entered the medical field as an X-ray technician at St. Luke's Hospital. Professionally, Mary Kay excelled as an X-ray technician for over 35 years, retiring in 2015.

In 1970, she married Robert Timmons, and the couple settled in Cedar Rapids, where they raised their family before divorcing in 1979. Mary Kay devoted her life to her two sons, Brahn and Kyle. She was the epitome of selflessness, always sacrificing everything for her two boys, ensuring they never wanted for anything. She was a doting mother-in-law to Tracy (Brahn), and a loving grandmother to Isabelle, Harper, and Brendan; and great-grandmother to Sialous and Ivyanne. Her family brought her endless delight, always looking forward to spending time with them whenever she could. She loved spending time in her flower garden, where she planted new blooms each spring and enjoyed savoring a cold beer on hot days after tending the dirt. Known as the hardest-working lady by friends and family, she always went the extra mile, her unselfish nature shining through in every endeavor.

Mary Kay's passions painted a picture of simple joys: solving Sudoku, crosswords, or jigsaw puzzles; relaxing on her deck with wine and friends; and tinkering around in her home or yard, always finding something new to work on. She enjoyed the Beatles and Elvis melodies in her youth, and as an adult, she laughed along with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno, embracing life with an infectious upbeat attitude. Her warm laugh, fun sense of humor, and timeless beauty endeared her to all, calling her friends "kiddo" and treating them as family.

Phone calls and visits with family always ended with "I love you," words that now echo eternally. She will be forever loved and deeply missed, her legacy blooming eternally in the hearts she touched. Mary Kay was preceded in death by her father, Harry, her mother, Blanche, her brother Roger, and sister-in-law, Mary Jo.

A Visitation will be March 19, 2026, from 9:30 - 11:00 am at the Cedar Memorial Park Chapel Stateroom. Memorial Services will follow the visitation at The Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories. Burial services will be held privately at the Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate a donation made to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), in Mary Kay's name.