Mary Francis Shearer

Per Mary’s wishes there will be no formal service. She donated her body to the University of Iowa Deeded Body Program as did her husband, Bob.

Mary was born on June 26, 1931, to Ruby and Paul McCollum in Violet Hill, Arkansas, one of six children. She was united in marriage to Hoyt N. Acuff for 22 years and had three children, Katherine, Denzil, and Hoyt Jr. In 1974, she married Robert “Bob” D. Shearer and became the stepmother of five children, Charles, Howard, Cynthia, Deborah and Denise. Bob and Mary were married for over 50 years.

Mary was a lifelong athlete playing guard with the Violet Hill High School basketball team. She later played with a local women’s softball league, bowled for more than 50 years and golfed well into her 80’s. She also loved playing Bingo, and her last casino run was in April, just before her 95th birthday. Mary also was skilled at handicrafts, including quilting, crocheting, and making teddy bears out of fur obtained from local garage sales.

Mary worked many years at Iowa State University in the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development as an administrative assistant.

Mary is survived by her younger brother, three children, 5 stepchildren, 12 grandchildren and numerous great and great great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents and husband and four siblings.

Memorials may be directed to Women’s Sports Foundation at www.womensportsfoundation.org in loving memory of Mary.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be left at www.stevensmemorialchapel.com for the Shearer and Acuff families.