Mary Elizabeth Fox

Mary E. Fox, 96, of Forest City died Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

A Funeral Mass will be held 10:30 A.M., Saturday, December 16, 2017 at St. James Catholic Church in Forest City with Fr. Jim Dubert officiating.

A Scriptural Wake Service followed by a Rosary will begin at 4:00 P.M. at St. James Catholic Church, 906 West O St., Forest City, Iowa 50436, visitation will follow from 4:30 – 7:00 P.M., Friday, December 15, 2017 at the church.

Burial will be held in St. James Catholic Cemetery in Forest City.

Mary Elizabeth Fox was born March 8, 1921, the daughter of Joe and Mary (Tobin) Byers. Mary met Chic at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake where he was a dance instructor. There were many memories of them winning dance contests. They were married August 12, 1941.

Mary attended AIB Business School in Des Moines, Iowa. She worked at Maben Insurance and Rueben’s Department Store, she was also a receptionist at Forest City Hospital and for Dr. Tom Mangan. They farmed for five years before moving to Forest City in 1946. In 1951 they purchased Ruby Evan’s Mobil Gas Station 3 miles south of Forest City, renaming it Fox Trading Post. During the 1960’s they had dances on Saturday nights. Chic and Alton Brandl grilled half chicken and Mary prepared baked beans and coleslaw for $1.50 a plate. They operated a USDA Kennel for 25 years raising and buying litters of puppies and shipping to pet stores.

Mary and Chic enjoyed going to auctions and participating in flea markets, Mary set up 26 tables of antiques for sale. Mary enjoyed baking and cooking and was known for her good pies.

Mary is survived by her daughter, Cindy (Bob) Mary of Forest City; son, Mike Fox of Charlotte, NC; grandchildren, Monica (Scott) Young of Garner, Brenda (Tony) Huebsch of Mitchell, IA, Carla Mary of Greenville, NH and Bryon Sletten of Mason City; great-grandchildren, Amy (Seth) Fitzgerald, Katie (Eric) Butcher, Micheala (Curtis) Eisenmann and Courtney Huebsch and friend, Trevor Rasmussen; great great-grandchildren, Haylie and Madison Fitzgerald, Blaine and Asher Eisenmann; sisters-in-law, Jennie Mae Nelson and Helen Jean Dutemple and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Creighton (Chic) Fox; parents, Joe and Mary Byers; brothers, Bernard and Kenneth Byers and twin sister, Rose Sebers; brothers-in-law, Kay Fox, Roger Nelson, Al Dutemple, Earl “Toad” Fox Jr., Bill Fox, Alton Brandl, Lester Severs and sisters-in-law, Alice, Katherine, Vivian Fox, Margie Brandl and Mabel Byers.