Mary Jo (Wilhite) Palis passed away peacefully on June 26, 2022, surrounded by her family. Mary was born December 28, 1938 in Crawfordsville, IN to Delores Elaine (Pearce) Douglas and Robert Wilhite. As a young child she moved to East St. Louis, IL, with her mother and step-father, James A. Douglas. She graduated with honors from East St. Louis High School in 1956. There she also met the love of her life Raymond Arthur Palis.
Ray and Mary married February 2, 1957. They lived in East St. Louis, Kansas City, and finally made their home in Des Moines in 1966. Mary spent her time raising their three children, Deb, Kathy and Doug. She taught Sunday School, served as a Girl Scout Troop Leader, volunteered for the American Cancer Society, Hospice, the schools, church and ensuring the kids got to all their various activities. It was later in her life she went to work at American Federal Savings and Loan, rising to the rank of Branch Manager. She was very proud that her work allowed her to fund the college tuition of her children. One of the many gifts she instilled in them was the value of education, which has been passed on to her six grandchildren as well.
After she left the working world, she embarked on a childhood dream of owning a cabin on a lake. That took her and Ray for the past 37 summers to Spider Lake in Nevis, MN. There, Mary shared her love of the outdoors with her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. Nothing could beat a day at the lake, boat rides, fishing, weenie roasts, s’mores, picking up sticks for the fire, the pileated woodpecker, the call of the loons and the peace and quiet of nature. The memories of Spider Lake will live on forever!
Mary is survived by her husband of 65 years Raymond A. Palis; children, Deborah (Craig) Hansen of Johnston, Kathleen Weinberg of Clive and Doug (Phyllis) Palis of Dallas, TX; and six grandchildren, Whitney (Jeff) Edgar, Paige (Josh) Meredith, Sam (Devan) Weinberg, Ben Weinberg, Annie Weinberg, and Sydney Palis; and six great-grandchildren. Mary’s love of life and strong will, will be missed by all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her parents, Delores and James A. Douglas, Bob Wilhite; younger brother, James M. Douglas; and in-laws, Albert and Mamie Palis.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, June 30, 2022 at First Baptist Church, 8250 NW 62nd Ave., Johnston, IA with a Celebration of Life following at 11 a.m. Burial will be at Resthaven Cemetery at a later date.
The family requests no flowers. Memorials may be made in her name to Akeley Methodist Church, 17-1st St. SE, Akeley, MN 56433 or The Deerfield Foundation Scholarship Fund, 13731 Hickman Rd., Urbandale, IA 50323. The family would like to thank the staff of Deerfield for providing loving and thoughtful care to Mary. We appreciate it more than words can express.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mclarensresthavenchapel.com for the Palis family.
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