Mary Ellen Scott, 88, of Maquoketa, Iowa, went to live with the Lord through Jesus Christ her Savior on Friday evening, Jan. 13, 2017, at the Jackson County Regional Health Center in Maquoketa, Iowa.
The Celebration of her Christian Life was held beginning with a Visitation from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, and continuing with services beginning at 10 a.m., Thursday, Jan.19, 2017 at the Carson Celebration of Life Center in Maquoketa, Iowa. Christian committal and burial will be at the Lost Nation Iowa Cemetery.
Mary Ellen Petersen was born on June 29, 1928 in Clinton, Iowa, to Henry August and Clara Margaretha nee Gade Petersen. She was welcomed by her siblings Howard, Bob and Margaret and later joined by Betty and Dorothy Lucille (who died in infancy).  She was baptized and confirmed In the Christian faith at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Grand Mound.
She grew up in Grand Mound graduating from Grand Mound High School in 1946 with her sister Betty.  Upon her high school graduation she immediately started working for Iowa Mutual Insurance in DeWitt as a secretary for six years until her marriage to Henry Junior Scott on Jan. 25, 1953 at Grace Lutheran Church, DeWitt, Iowa. The couple was blessed with three boys, Lauren, Ray and Lyle. They farmed together raising crops, growing pigs, and milking cows.  They farmed near Blue Grass, Welton, Charlotte and Lost Nation and south of Elwood until moving into Maquoketa.
Mary also worked off the farm beginning with Stuedemann Agri-Service in 1980 and later on for Families of Northeast Iowa. She had volunteered and given her time to the Lime Stone Bluffs Resource and Conservation Development Area, Inc. and the Jackson County Public Hospital. A highlight was volunteering for The Farmers Outreach Organization and was honored as being named recipient of “the Golden Heart”.  She just loved being there to help other farmers and people in need.
Mary (and Henry) were named recipients of many honors or awards from soil conservation to dairy production, as well as serving on the board of directors of the Jackson-Clinton County Dairy Association for many years promoting dairy products endlessly. They also enjoyed being involved with the Clinton and Jackson county 4H Extension programs.
Mary and Henry enjoyed dancing all their lives.  Many bands they followed but they really appreciated Bearfoot Becky and the Ivanhoe Dutchman playing for their 50th Anniversary. They also loved music in Branson and watching Daniel O’Donnell on television. Mary attended Christian services in many churches.  She belonged to Bethlehem Lutheran in Lost Nation for many years until moving to Maquoketa joining Beautiful Savior Lutheran even playing the organ until it closed.  She later would be organist at the Presbyterian church of Andrew, when her playing ended because of poor health she chose to join the Faith Methodist church in Monmouth, Iowa to be close to Lyle and Brenda’s family connections.  She enjoyed hearing the Gospel lessons each week.
Those left to honor her memory include her children:  Lauren and Vicky Witte Scott of Manchester, Iowa, with son Justin and Brandy Scott of Waterloo, Iowa with their kids Kinnick, Peyton, and Madalyn. Lauren’s daughter Rachael Scott with Jacob and Katelyn, and Lauren’s son Nicholas with fiance Nicole Maas with Nash and Nora; Ray and Colleen Scott of Darlington, with Melissa and Patrick McDermott with Joey and Abby and Ray’s son Matthew of Darlington; Lyle and Brenda Scott of Lost Nation, Iowa with Amanda and Jeremy with Montana and Addison and Lyle’s son Adam.
Mary was plain and simple... just a smile to everyone she touched!
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made to the charity of Camp Courageous and the Jackson County Iowa Kidney Center or to a charity of one’s choice. The family wishes to thank the nurses and staff at Crestridge Nursing Home in Maquoketa for their care.
Online Condolences may be left at www.CarsonAndSon.com.