Mary Lorene Byerly Van Horn

Mary Lorene (Byerly) Van Horn, 89, peacefully passed away on September 8, 2016 at the Perry Lutheran Home in Perry, IA. Per Mary’s request cremation will take place, and a memorial of scattering of ashes in the Pacific Ocean joining her beloved husband, Donald will follow at a later date. No other services are planned.

Mary was born March 16, 1927 to George Perry and Carrie Rose (Anderson) Byerly in Des Moines, IA. Mary was married to her true love and devoted husband, Donald L. Van Horn for 37 years prior to his passing. They moved to California in 1962, where Mary worked for the Santa Ana YMCA for over 24 years. After retirement Mary left the California life she so deeply loved and returned to Des Moines to be near family.

Mary enjoyed family gatherings, dancing, singing old hymns and along with recordings by Engelbert Humperdinck, Marty Robbins, and Tom Jones, working cross word puzzles and playing card games and bingo with friends. She especially loved living downtown, walking the skywalks and eating lunch and dinner out with friends at various restaurants in the downtown area. Mary’s personal great pleasure were beauty salon trips to get her hair and nails done.

She is survived by her son, David E. and wife Judi Van Horn of West Des Moines; 2 grandsons, David (Michelle) Van Horn of Huntington Beach, CA and Chris Van Horn of Des Moines; four great-grandchildren, Tristan and Lexi of Huntington Beach, CA and Kiersten and Cody of Urbandale, IA; nieces, Trudy (Tom) Poston of West Des Moines, IA, Marla (Leroy) Hoyles of Hermitage, TN, and Carolyne (Tony) Hern of Texas; nephews, Greg (Sonya) Byerly of Dallas, TX and Wayne Byerly of Texas; and special cousin, Elaine (Dudley) Miller of Lake Elsinore, CA.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Donald; grandson, Michael; and brothers, Gordon and his wife, Doris Byerly of Des Moines, IA and Alvin Wayne Byerly of Santa Ana, CA.

Mary will be remembered for her kind and gentle spirit, her spunk, quick smile and sense of humor, and thoughtfulness of other’s needs.

The family wishes to express our sincere thanks for the loving care and kindness shown to Mary at Perry Lutheran, as well as the staff of St. Croix Hospice.

Memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer Association. Condolences may be expressed online at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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