Mary K. Williams, 107, died on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at Landmark Commons in Waterloo.
She was born February 27, 1918, in Cherokee, the daughter of Thomas and Maud (Anderson) Williams. She graduated from Marcus High School in 1935 and earned her BA from Iowa State Teacher’s College (UNI) in 1940.
After graduating, she taught at Traer, Clarinda, and Webster City. She then taught for 36 years at Longfellow and Whittier Schools in Waterloo prior to retiring in 1980.
She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Waterloo, where she was an Elder and a Deacon. She served as both moderator and treasurer of The Presbyterian Women of the Congregation.
Mary K. served on the Warnock Scholarship Committee since its inception in 1993. She was also a member of the Iowa State Education Association, National Education Association, and Association of Childhood Education International.
She was a past member and treasurer of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, IOTA Chapter, an 80-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Carnation Chapter #165, Cherokee, and a lifetime member of the UNI Alumni Association. She received the YWCA’s Special Friend Award in 2010 and enjoyed traveling on the Y’s bus trips. In 2014, she was honored as one of the Courier’s “Eight over 80.”
Mary K. is survived by her cousin Rick (Cathy) Young of Waterloo; their children, Kelly Young, Travis (Deb) Young, and Mike (Dodie) Young, all of Waterloo; and their children, Tucker and Cooper Delveau, Laura and Sarah Young, Thomas, Ben, and Raines Young.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church, Waterloo, with visitation for one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will take place at Oak Hill Cemetery in Cherokee at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Waterloo Schools Foundation, Waterloo Community Foundation, or First Presbyterian Church. Condolences may be left at http://www.lockefuneralservices.com/. Locke at Tower Park, 4140 Kimball Ave., Waterloo, is assisting the family. Locke at Tower Park, 319-233-3146.