Mary Putman

January 10, 1943 - December 11, 2017

Mary Sue "Bubs" Putman, age 74, of Washington, passed away Monday, December 11, 2017 at the Halcyon House in Washington after a courageous 3 year battle with cancer. Celebration of life services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 16, 2017 at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home with Andrew Zuehlke officiating. Calling hours will begin noon Friday, December 15, 2017 at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Friday evening. Interment will take place at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington at a later date. Memorials have been established for Hospice of Washington County and the Ainsworth Opera House. Online condolences may be sent for Mary’s family through the web at www.jonesfh.com Mary was born January 10, 1943 in Ainsworth, Iowa in the family home to Earl and Wanda (Murphy) Wood. She graduated in 1960 from Ainsworth High School. On August 16, 1963 she was united in marriage to William J. Putman at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. After graduation Mary moved to Iowa City, Iowa and worked as a nursing assistant at the University Hospital. She also worked as a telephone operator for Northwestern Bell. Her marriage brought her to Washington and she worked at McCleery- Cummings Calendar Factory. She was a waitress at two local steak houses. In 1989 she started work at Orchard Hill Rescare and became a Medication Aide. At age 48 she attended 3 years at Kirkwood Community College in the nursing program. She was proud of her accomplishments there making the Dean’s list and being in Who’s Who among non-traditional students. From there she worked ten years at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics in medical records and as a receptionist. After retirement, Mary went to work part-time as an assistant to Dr.’s Tom and David Boysen, Dermatologists in Coralville – a position she dearly loved. Mary lived life to the fullest. She loved to travel, play cards, counted cross stitch, dance, listen to music, but most of all be with friends. Her gift was making people laugh and have fun. Mary is survived by two sisters, Nancy White of Washington and Jane “Pat” Johnson of Fruitland; three brothers, Jim (Cathy) Wood, Tim (Maria) Wood, and Mike (Barbara) Wood all of Washington; twenty three nieces and nephews; thirty one great nieces and nephews; and fourteen great-great nieces and nephews. Mary is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Bill in 1997; sister, Jean and husband Harold Hall; sister, Joan Sueppel and husband Leo; sister, Jeanette Bergman and husband Don; brother, Frank Wood; sister-in-law, Dorothy Chabal; nephew, Eddie Hall; niece, Peggy Chabal; and great nephew, Zach Rich.