Mary Kilcoin, age 104, of Adair, IA, passed away on Monday, December 25, 2023, at The New Homestead in Guthrie Center, IA.
Mary Margaret Kilcoin, daughter of LeRoy and Lola Faye Straight Keeran, was born in Guthrie County on 7-25-1919. At age 4, Mary’s mother and newborn brother died. That left her father to care for seven children aged 14 down to 2. So, Vernon and Edna Spangler took her to live with them. She went to country school until the 8th grade when she transferred to the Adair Independent School to be taught by Miss McMahon. Mary graduated in 1937 and then taught country school for three years. In the first and second years, the school was Grant #2, called the Lehman School in Grant County. Then, the third year went to Beargrove County called the Bethel School. August 18, 1940, she married Lynn F. Kilcoin at the Spangler’s country home in rural Guthrie County near Adair. They made their home in Adair. She worked in Long’s dime store and Connors grocery store. Later, she was school board secretary at the Adair-Casey High School.
Mary was active in the Pythian Sisters, the V.F.W. Auxiliary, the American Legion Auxiliary, The Federated Club, the Ladies Civic League, and the Ladies Cemetery Association, and served on the election board for many years and volunteered at the Senior Center meal site. She was a member of the Care Review Committee of the Adair Community Health Center until it was liquidated. She was Den Mother in Boy Scouts and was a member of the United Methodist Church since 1940, where she served in several offices in W.S.C.S., the U.M.W., and taught Sunday School and Bible School. She was a member of the Bethel Church and then the United Methodist Church in Adair.
She and Lynn loved camping in their 5th wheel and spent vacations traveling with the Smiths, Tomlinsons, Hoehns, and Beatties. She was happiest when she was baking wedding cakes and doing her crafts, especially woodworking and jewelry. She did a lot of crocheting and knitting and made many quilts, afghans, mittens, sweaters, and hats. She loved angels and hummingbirds and had a collection of both. She also had a collection of cups and saucers that she picked up in their travels. She loved playing cards, any kind, but preferred pinochle.
Surviving are four children: David (Linda) Kilcoin of Show Low, AZ; Donald (Jeani) Kilcoin of Buckeye, AZ; Kathy (Lenny) Sargent of Adair, IA and Debra (Terry) Berry of Truro, IA. 12 Grandchildren: Scott Kilcoin; Lisa (Tim) Wright; Curtis Kilcoin; Regina Jeffries; Shane (Tammy) Reed; Michael (Jamaica) Reed; Derek (Brandi) Sargent; Tanya Sargent and Buzz Aalsburg; Brandon (Diana) Johnson, Heather (Shawn) Allen; Ashley (Justin) Collins; and Kyle (Amber) Kilcoin. Also 35 great-grandchildren, 6 great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews she kept in contact with.
Preceding her in death: Husband Lynn in 1999 and Son Kent in 2007, Granddaughter-in-law Eileen, and Great Granddaughter Stephanie; Parents LeRoy and Lola Faye Keeran; Sisters: Pearl Clark, Velva Mayhew, Opal Fleener; Brothers: John Keeran, William Keeran, and Edward Keeran; Foster Parents: Vernon & Edna Spangler; Foster Sister: Mary McDonald; Foster Brothers: Beryl (Esther) Spangler, Frank (Elizabeth) Spangler, and Amos (Frances) Spangler
Visitation with family will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 4, 2024, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Adair.
Memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 5, 2024, at the Adair United Methodist Church in Adair, with Rev. Charlene Wolfe officiating. Interment will follow the service at Sunnyhill Cemetery in Adair. Refreshments will be provided following the committal service in the reception hall of the Adair United Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Mary Kilcoin Family and designated to many of her favorite organizations and charities. They may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.
Arrangements are handled by the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Adair.
