Mary Klein

Mary Alice Klein, 83, of Murray died Thursday, May 16, 2019, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.

Services will be 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, at Murray Church of Christ. Visitation will be Tuesday at Kale Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., in Osceola with family present from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Interment will be in Murray Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the city of Murray for the Murray Recreational Project. Online condolences may be left at www.kalefuneralhome.com.

Mary Alice Klein, daughter of Roy Sprague and Marjorie Josephine (Nelson) Sprague Swain, was born Sept. 12, 1935, in Barnes City. Mary grew up in the What Cheer area. She graduated from What Cheer High School in 1953. Mary graduated from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in 1956. She later received her BSN in nursing in 1979 from the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois. She received her teaching degree in health and art in 1988 from Graceland University. Mary has worked as the Murray Community School nurse for 53 years. Mary taught health and medical classes and had a CNA program in the Murray High School for the past 30 years. Mary received the Golden Apple Award in 2003.

On Nov. 17, 1956, Mary married Merle Stanley Klein at What Cheer Christian Church.

Mary served on many boards including Clarke County Soil and Water Conservation from 1987 to present and was secretary of the South-Central RC&D from 1997 to present. She formed and lead the Murray Community Resource Development and Murray Community Betterment from 1975 to 2007. Mary founded the Murray Chapter of the Future Nurses Association, and started the Mrs. Claus and Elves program in the Murray community. Mary was a member of the Murray Church of Christ.

Mary is survived by her children, Kevin (Melanie) Klein of Joplin, Missouri, Cheryl (Dan) McNeal of Murray, Joyce (Todd) Smith of Osceola and David (Jeanne) Klein of Osceola; grandchildren, Karin (Jordan) Adkins of Joplin, Missouri, Kalissa (Nathan) Stang of Owasso, Oklahoma, Kenan (Amanda) Klein of Joplin, Missouri, Keona (Gabe) Quick of Joplin, Missouri, Korey (Hannah) Klein of Joplin, Missouri, Jonathan McNeal of Ankeny, Sonya (Brad) Scadden of Creston, Monissa (Stephen) Golic of Ankeny, Aaron Smith of Osceola, Austin (Jackie) Smith of Iowa City, Adam (Jackie) Smith of Murray and Breianna, Calleigh, Keirsten, Brayden and Brenden Klein, all of Osceola; great-grandchildren, Olivia, Hallie, Landon and Sadie Adkins, Ayden, Haddon, Adelay, Milo, Finn and Penny Stang, Kendra Klein, Jase and Jamisen McNeal, Briley and Prestan Scadden, Auston Golic and Bentley, Waylon, Wyatt and Karsyn Smith; sister Betty Siegfried of Cherokee; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Mary was preceded in death by her father Roy Sprague; mother and step-in-law, Marjorie and Issac Swain; husband Merle Klein and sister Gertrude Doughten.