Mary Ellen Yarger was born to Robert and Dora (Bode) Hitt on March 8, 1935, in Lewis, Iowa. She passed away at her home in Massena, Iowa on November 21, 2025, at the age of 90 years.
Mary Ellen was raised on a farm north of Massena. She attended Country School #6 and graduated from Massena High School in 1952. On June 1, 1952, she married Ronald Yarger at the Methodist Church in Massena. To this union three children were born.
Mary Ellen was very active in the Methodist church serving as a lay person, a Sunday school teacher and holding many offices in the U.M.W. She served on the library board and Friends of the library and was very active in the American Legion Auxiliary and loved our country and the flag. Mary Ellen and Ron helped organize the Massena Historical Society. She was always willing to help in her community in whatever way she could.
Mary Ellen enjoyed being with friends, sharing “lunches” at noon and coffee klatches. She also hosted many Pinochle card parties at the Legion Hall. She loved to bake for neighbors and friends (especially her “secret cinnamon roll” recipe). Her Christmas cookies were a favorite with her family and will certainly be missed.
In 1953 Mary Ellen moved to England to be with Ron where he served during the Korean War. They enjoyed their time there with their host family. In later years they made several trips back there along with visiting other European countries. She and Ron loved to travel and visited many places in the United States as well.
Mary Ellen and Ron owned the Economy Food Market for many years and were blessed to have many wonderful employees who were like family to them.
Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her husband, Ron; brothers: Robert and Lee Hitt and sister, Ileana Ellis; brother-in-law Ewing Ellis; sisters-in-law: Wilma Way, Jeanette Patach, Karen Hitt, Rosemarie Hitt, Teresa Hitt, and great granddaughter, Marah Leigh Yarger.
She is survived by her three children, Sandra Roberts and husband Jim of Wolcott, CO, Ronald Lee Yarger II (Tag) and wife Chris of Wahoo, NE and Jeffrey Yarger and wife Caryn of Eagle, Co: grandchildren: Pascoe Roberts, Jamie Lee Friese, Alex Yarger, Abigail Dagel, Katie Smith, Sophia Yarger, Nick Thompson, Charlotte Nestor, Wade Thompson, Jared Thompson and Caitlin De’Aeth; many great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren; brothers Charles Hitt of Omaha, NE and Jake and wife, Virginia Hitt of Greenfield, IA; numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Celebration of Life Services: Will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Massena with a luncheon immediately following the service. Burial will be in the Massena Center Cemetery following the luncheon. Pastor Karen Patrick will officiate the service. The Lamb Funeral Home in Massena is in charge of the professional arrangements. Online condolences may be left to the family at to be www.lambfuneralhomes.com.
Memorials: May be directed to the Mary Ellen Yarger Memorial Fund to be established at a later date.
