Marlys A. Rawson

Marlys A. Rawson, 94, of Garner died Monday, June 26, 2017 at Concord Care Center in Garner.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M., Saturday, July 1st at the United Methodist Church in Garner with Rev. Paul Evans officiating. Cremation will follow the service with burial at a later date in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church. Cataldo Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials, if desired, may be directed to the Garner United Methodist Church or KCMR radio station in Mason City.

Marlys Arlene Rawson, the daughter of Arthur J. and Mabel (Clark) Rawson, was born September 16, 1922 at Clear Lake. She graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1940, Mason City Junior College (NIACC), the University of Iowa and later received her teaching certification from Drake University. During World War II she worked in the Aircraft Radio Division of Wright-Patterson Air Field, Dayton, Ohio. From 1946 until her retirement in 1987, she was employed by Hancock County Rural Electric Cooperative (Prairie Energy) in Garner. Marlys participated in community activities and organizations. She was an ABE instructor, secretary of the Hancock Unit of the American Cancer Society, council member of the University of Iowa and life member of the University of Iowa Alumni Association, member of the Tau Master chapter of Beta Sigma Phi and FN chapter of P.E.O. She also was a volunteer announcer at radio station KCMR in Mason City, past president of the Operations Board of the Garner Area Community Education Center and member of the Garner Methodist Church where she was active in the church choir, Rebekah Circle and various church committees. Marlys was especially pleased to have been an assistant for Hancock County Extension programs as well as to writer, Craig Niemeyer’s novel, Wolfer. Many winters were enjoyed in Arizona.

Marlys is survived by nieces, Jan McCormick and husband, Mark, of Spring Green, WI and Jean Rawson Terhaar and husband, Allen, of Madison, WI; three great nieces; a great nephew; a great-great niece and nephew; cousins and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Ronald, in 1994; and dear friend, Mary Ann Eisenmann.