Mary Frances Jess (Tilton)
July 25, 1943 — July 27, 2008
Mary F. Jess, 65, of Marion, died Sunday, July 27, 2008, at Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids, following a long battle with ovarian cancer. Services: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 30, 2008, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion, by Rev. Del Bear. The family will greet friends from 4 - 7 p.m., Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at the funeral home. There will be no graveside service.
Survivors include her husband, Bill; her mother, Dorothy Montague; her children, Jon Scriven of Parkersburg, Iowa, Dawn (Dave) Sindelar of Marion, and Chad Scriven of Tuscon, Arizona; her grandchildren, Jamie Reddy and Alex Scriven; 2 brothers, Bob (Caroline) Tilton and John (Deann) Tilton; her nieces, Jeni and Staci and nephews, Jim and Paul; and God-child, Lori Harrington.
She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Tilton; her special second father, Dave Montague; her wonderful grandparents, Ben and Gigi; her Aunt Angie and a step-daughter, Kim Euchen.
Mary was born July 25, 1943, the daughter of Robert and Dorothy (Jasa) Tilton, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She graduated from Prairie High School, participating in marching band, cheerleading, and voted Homecoming queen. She married Jon Scriven in 1961 and the two of them owned and operated John & Mary’s Café and The Chat & Chew Café. Mary later found and married her soul mate, Bill Jess, in 1980. This great friend and husband gave Mary 28 years of help raising the children and looking out for Mary to see she enjoyed her life. Never could she have to begun to endure these last 6 years with cancer without Bill. He saw to it that they enjoyed many trips and togetherness during her good times between chemo treatments.
Mary worked for 28 years for Glen & Donna Stouwie and their numerous enterprises: Landstar Ranger, a truck brokerage; Bes Industrial, a plastic recycling plant; Kings & Queens, casino motor coaches. Everyday was something new and exciting. She enjoyed going to work every day but the enjoyment was because of Glenn and Donna who weren’t just bosses but Mary’s best friends as well. She called Donna “the sister she never had” and Glen, another brother. They were especially supportive these last 6 years letting Mary work whenever she could during all of her chemo treatments. That gave her incentive to get up and have something to do during her illness.
Thank you to the special friends, Jerry & Shirley Reinhert “Hawkeye Buddies” for countless meals over the years; Pat Wells, a friendship that lasted since high school; Dan & Barb Shafer, for their love and support; and Fred & Donna Allman, for making our Florida vacations so special. Aside of friends and love of family, Mary had a great love for music of almost any kind. She was an avid reader, very rarely found without a book. She was an avid supporter of St. Jude’s Cancer Hospital and Make A Wish Foundation of Iowa, for over 30 years she has sponsored over 6 children through Plan International.
A special thank you to Dr. Kutteh and everyone at Oncology Associates. She attributes these last years to these dedicated people, and to Dr. Louvar, our family doctor for his “out of the ordinary” care and concern; and finally, to the wonderful people of Hospice of Mercy for helping all the family through the final times.
Mary isn’t saying “good-bye” just “see you later.”
Survivors include her husband, Bill; her mother, Dorothy Montague; her children, Jon Scriven of Parkersburg, Iowa, Dawn (Dave) Sindelar of Marion, and Chad Scriven of Tuscon, Arizona; her grandchildren, Jamie Reddy and Alex Scriven; 2 brothers, Bob (Caroline) Tilton and John (Deann) Tilton; her nieces, Jeni and Staci and nephews, Jim and Paul; and God-child, Lori Harrington.
She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Tilton; her special second father, Dave Montague; her wonderful grandparents, Ben and Gigi; her Aunt Angie and a step-daughter, Kim Euchen.
Mary was born July 25, 1943, the daughter of Robert and Dorothy (Jasa) Tilton, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She graduated from Prairie High School, participating in marching band, cheerleading, and voted Homecoming queen. She married Jon Scriven in 1961 and the two of them owned and operated John & Mary’s Café and The Chat & Chew Café. Mary later found and married her soul mate, Bill Jess, in 1980. This great friend and husband gave Mary 28 years of help raising the children and looking out for Mary to see she enjoyed her life. Never could she have to begun to endure these last 6 years with cancer without Bill. He saw to it that they enjoyed many trips and togetherness during her good times between chemo treatments.
Mary worked for 28 years for Glen & Donna Stouwie and their numerous enterprises: Landstar Ranger, a truck brokerage; Bes Industrial, a plastic recycling plant; Kings & Queens, casino motor coaches. Everyday was something new and exciting. She enjoyed going to work every day but the enjoyment was because of Glenn and Donna who weren’t just bosses but Mary’s best friends as well. She called Donna “the sister she never had” and Glen, another brother. They were especially supportive these last 6 years letting Mary work whenever she could during all of her chemo treatments. That gave her incentive to get up and have something to do during her illness.
Thank you to the special friends, Jerry & Shirley Reinhert “Hawkeye Buddies” for countless meals over the years; Pat Wells, a friendship that lasted since high school; Dan & Barb Shafer, for their love and support; and Fred & Donna Allman, for making our Florida vacations so special. Aside of friends and love of family, Mary had a great love for music of almost any kind. She was an avid reader, very rarely found without a book. She was an avid supporter of St. Jude’s Cancer Hospital and Make A Wish Foundation of Iowa, for over 30 years she has sponsored over 6 children through Plan International.
A special thank you to Dr. Kutteh and everyone at Oncology Associates. She attributes these last years to these dedicated people, and to Dr. Louvar, our family doctor for his “out of the ordinary” care and concern; and finally, to the wonderful people of Hospice of Mercy for helping all the family through the final times.
Mary isn’t saying “good-bye” just “see you later.”
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