Maryester Duncombe (Macinnes)
January 16, 1921 — November 11, 2010
Maryester (MacInnes) Duncombe, 89, of Marion, died Thursday, November 11, 2010, at Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha, of old age.
Memorial Service: 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 17, 2010, at Marion Free Methodist Church by Rev. Del Bear. Per Mary’s wishes, there will be no visitation. Arrangements by Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion.
“Marydee” was born Jan. 16, 1921, in Mansonville, Quebec, Canada, after her parents arrived there from Edinburgh, Scotland. They came to the U.S. when Mary was 2 & her brother, David, 5 months. She attended 3 high schools in 4 years, from a small one in Union, NJ, to a huge one with 7 buildings in NY City.
From the age of 8, Mary was involved with the theater: in NJ, NY City, & later in the Cedar Rapids area. In NY, she had the honor of being invited to become a member of the American Actor’s Company. Vocationally in NY, she rose from a file clerk to an assistant office manager within 9 years. On Oct. 15, 1945, Mary & Bill Duncombe were married in Pasco, WA, while Bill was in the Navy Air Service. Their son, Kevet, was born later in NJ. They moved to Marion, IA in 1961.
In the Cedar Rapids area, Mary worked at IA Natl. (beginning in 1967), then KLWW Radio, followed by WMT Radio, as a continuity writer. Following that, she became Activity Director at then Americana Health Care Center (later Manor Care) until retirement in 1986. From the 1960’s on, Mary performed with the Cedar Rapids Community Theater, now known as Theatre Cedar Rapids. 5 favorites were: John Brown’s Body, Spoon River Anthology, Blithe Spirit, Raisin in the Sun, and Romeo & Juliet.
She was an active member of Altrusa Club of Cedar Rapids (later Circle of Rubles) & Zeta Phi Eta (a speech arts sorority). After retirement, she especially enjoyed volunteer work, including teaching reading to adults.
She is survived by her son, Kevet (Sandy) Duncombe of Crystal, MN; and David’s wife, Pamela, & their son, Ramsey.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents: David & Esther MacInnes, by Bill Duncombe, & her brother, David.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to Theatre Cedar Rapids, Habitat for Humanity, the Marion Food Pantry, or a charity of your choice in Mary’s memory.
Please sign our online guestbook for Mary at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
Memorial Service: 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 17, 2010, at Marion Free Methodist Church by Rev. Del Bear. Per Mary’s wishes, there will be no visitation. Arrangements by Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion.
“Marydee” was born Jan. 16, 1921, in Mansonville, Quebec, Canada, after her parents arrived there from Edinburgh, Scotland. They came to the U.S. when Mary was 2 & her brother, David, 5 months. She attended 3 high schools in 4 years, from a small one in Union, NJ, to a huge one with 7 buildings in NY City.
From the age of 8, Mary was involved with the theater: in NJ, NY City, & later in the Cedar Rapids area. In NY, she had the honor of being invited to become a member of the American Actor’s Company. Vocationally in NY, she rose from a file clerk to an assistant office manager within 9 years. On Oct. 15, 1945, Mary & Bill Duncombe were married in Pasco, WA, while Bill was in the Navy Air Service. Their son, Kevet, was born later in NJ. They moved to Marion, IA in 1961.
In the Cedar Rapids area, Mary worked at IA Natl. (beginning in 1967), then KLWW Radio, followed by WMT Radio, as a continuity writer. Following that, she became Activity Director at then Americana Health Care Center (later Manor Care) until retirement in 1986. From the 1960’s on, Mary performed with the Cedar Rapids Community Theater, now known as Theatre Cedar Rapids. 5 favorites were: John Brown’s Body, Spoon River Anthology, Blithe Spirit, Raisin in the Sun, and Romeo & Juliet.
She was an active member of Altrusa Club of Cedar Rapids (later Circle of Rubles) & Zeta Phi Eta (a speech arts sorority). After retirement, she especially enjoyed volunteer work, including teaching reading to adults.
She is survived by her son, Kevet (Sandy) Duncombe of Crystal, MN; and David’s wife, Pamela, & their son, Ramsey.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents: David & Esther MacInnes, by Bill Duncombe, & her brother, David.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to Theatre Cedar Rapids, Habitat for Humanity, the Marion Food Pantry, or a charity of your choice in Mary’s memory.
Please sign our online guestbook for Mary at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
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