Mary S. Earls

Mary Snyder Earls spent fifty-one of her eighty-two years in Ames and during those years was an active participant in the ISU and Ames communities. Her ISU activities began in 1938 when she became a member of the ISU Faculty Women's Club and held practically all the offices involved in that Club. She was a member of the American Association of University Women and the ISU chapter. She was active in the social events of the Physics department where her husband was a faculty member.

In the Ames community she recognized the need for programs to help people in need. She participated for twenty-one years in the Mary Greeley Hospital auxiliary beginning when it was organized in 1954. During much of that time she was in weekly charge of the Samaritan cart in the hospital. She trained with and was involved with the telephone answering service of Ames Open Line to give assistance to people in Ames who were in need of guidance.

During two years while living at 115 N. Maple St. she was a member of the First Methodist Church in downtown Ames; she then moved to 436 N. Franklin Ave. and changed membership to the Collegiate United Methodist Church where she was active in the women's society and in the Fisher's group. For nine years she was a member of the Ames Campfire board.

She was a devoted wife during the fifty-five years of marriage to her husband Lester. She brought a most cooperative attitude to the marriage and was instrumental in making it a most happy one. To her two daughters Loraine and Ellen she was a loving and devoted mother and was very successful in bringing them to maturity with a good outlook on life. She also took charge of her grandchildren Jane and David while their mother Loraine was completing her bachelor's degree at ISU.

As an only daughter and niece she gave much support to her parents in Ann Arbor, MI and to her aunt in Las Vegas, NV. She made numerous trips to Ann Arbor and to Las Vegas to assist them when needed She loved the American west and shared many vacation trips with her family to national parks throughout the west and to Alaska and Hawaii. She also enjoyed trips to England, Norway, Germany, Austria and Switzerland with her husband during the years from 1959 to 1978.

She is remembered by her family and friends as an unselfish person who was glad to help others whenever possible.

12/5/94

Paver Inscription:

"Mary S. Earls
Member AAUW
FAC Wom Club
Ames Community
1938-1989"