Mary Holman (Gilchrist)
April 27, 1902 — February 29, 2008
Mary Gilchrist Holman, 105, a long time resident of Center Point, Iowa, passed away at Wyndcrest Nursing Home in Clinton, Iowa on February 29, 2008. A celebration of her life will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at the United Methodist Church, Center Point. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m., Monday, March 3, 2008 at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Center Point. Burial: Center Point Cemetery.
She is survived by her son, H. Richard “Dick” (Beulah) Holman of Perryville, Kentucky; her daughter, Sara Ann “Sally” Holman Hill of Clinton, Iowa; her grandchildren, Sara Hill Cole of Chicago, Illinois, Kim Holman Swanson of Richmond, Virginia, Kurt (Dawn) Holman Perryville, Kentucky; and her great grandchildren, Marion Catherine Holman Cole and Matthew Martin Holman. Mary has two step-grandchildren, Betty (Jeff) Carpenter and David (Pam) Flinchum of Kentucky; four step-great grandchildren; and four step-great great grandchildren.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband in 1986; her parents, Charles and Eunice Hudson Gilchrist; her sisters, Sarah Gilchrist, Helen Gilchrist Bare, Gretchen Gilchrist Beebe; her brothers, Martin and John Gilchrist; and her son-in-law, Edward J. Hill, husband of Sally Hill.
Mary Gilchrist was born April 27, 1902, on a farm on the Benton/Linn county line between Walker and Urbana. She graduated from Walker High School in 1919 and attended Iowa State Teacher’s College in Cedar Falls. After teaching in a country school 2 ½ years and the Waterloo Public Schools for 4 years, she married Howard W. Holman on June 19, 1928, moving to Center Point in 1931, where Howard had the Center Point Lumber Company and Mary became active in the community.
She was a life member of the Eastern Star, charter member of the Garden Club, Centennial Club and the Center Point Historical Museum. She was part of the group that started the local library, and in 1933, helped form the still active Modern Book Club. Mary served 21 years as secretary to the school board and 29 years as the Methodist Sunday School Superintendent, where she taught Sunday school classes, sang in the choir, and held several district offices.
Her hobbies included her flower garden, collecting luncheon plates, cups and saucers, making zucchini bread, photography, compiling family history, organizing family reunions, and traveling. She could be found most mornings in the coffee group at the Pizza Place visiting and working puzzles. While in her 90’s, Mary wrote nine volumes about her life, travels, the town of Center Point and the history of the Gilchrist, Hudson, and Holman families. Her family history books are in the Linn County Museum in Cedar Rapids and her first book, “Mary’s Story” and her last book, “Through the 20th Century in Center Point” are available from the local library in Center Point.
Mary will be missed by many good friends, devoted nieces and nephews, and her extended relatives who have depended on her to keep the family connected.
Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church in Center Point, the Center Point Library or the Center Point Historical Museum.
She is survived by her son, H. Richard “Dick” (Beulah) Holman of Perryville, Kentucky; her daughter, Sara Ann “Sally” Holman Hill of Clinton, Iowa; her grandchildren, Sara Hill Cole of Chicago, Illinois, Kim Holman Swanson of Richmond, Virginia, Kurt (Dawn) Holman Perryville, Kentucky; and her great grandchildren, Marion Catherine Holman Cole and Matthew Martin Holman. Mary has two step-grandchildren, Betty (Jeff) Carpenter and David (Pam) Flinchum of Kentucky; four step-great grandchildren; and four step-great great grandchildren.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband in 1986; her parents, Charles and Eunice Hudson Gilchrist; her sisters, Sarah Gilchrist, Helen Gilchrist Bare, Gretchen Gilchrist Beebe; her brothers, Martin and John Gilchrist; and her son-in-law, Edward J. Hill, husband of Sally Hill.
Mary Gilchrist was born April 27, 1902, on a farm on the Benton/Linn county line between Walker and Urbana. She graduated from Walker High School in 1919 and attended Iowa State Teacher’s College in Cedar Falls. After teaching in a country school 2 ½ years and the Waterloo Public Schools for 4 years, she married Howard W. Holman on June 19, 1928, moving to Center Point in 1931, where Howard had the Center Point Lumber Company and Mary became active in the community.
She was a life member of the Eastern Star, charter member of the Garden Club, Centennial Club and the Center Point Historical Museum. She was part of the group that started the local library, and in 1933, helped form the still active Modern Book Club. Mary served 21 years as secretary to the school board and 29 years as the Methodist Sunday School Superintendent, where she taught Sunday school classes, sang in the choir, and held several district offices.
Her hobbies included her flower garden, collecting luncheon plates, cups and saucers, making zucchini bread, photography, compiling family history, organizing family reunions, and traveling. She could be found most mornings in the coffee group at the Pizza Place visiting and working puzzles. While in her 90’s, Mary wrote nine volumes about her life, travels, the town of Center Point and the history of the Gilchrist, Hudson, and Holman families. Her family history books are in the Linn County Museum in Cedar Rapids and her first book, “Mary’s Story” and her last book, “Through the 20th Century in Center Point” are available from the local library in Center Point.
Mary will be missed by many good friends, devoted nieces and nephews, and her extended relatives who have depended on her to keep the family connected.
Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church in Center Point, the Center Point Library or the Center Point Historical Museum.
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