Mary Louise Schantz, age 84, of Washington, Iowa, died Sunday, March 22, 2020, in Washington, Iowa.

Graveside services will be held Saturday, July 25, 2020, at Shiloh Cemetery south of Washington, with Pastor Ryan Dexter officiating. Memorials have been established for Hospice of Washington County or Marion Township/Shiloh Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent for Mary's family through the web at www.jonesfh.com .

Mary was born June 16, 1935, in Muscatine County, Iowa, the daughter of Newton B. and Elizabeth M. (Herlein) Watson. She graduated from Muscatine High School in 1953 and attended Muscatine Junior College receiving an Associates Degree in Accounting. Mary was united in marriage to Donald Schantz on May 18, 1956, in Muscatine, Iowa.

Mary lived all of her married life south of Washington. She was secretary for the Muscatine County Attorney from 1954-1956. Mary served as the Marion Township Officer from 1965 until 2012 and was the Marion Township election chairperson from 1968 until 2008. Mary worked at the Washington Evening Journal and Connie's Hallmark in Washington for a number of years. She worked as a Pharmacy Technician at the Walmart Pharmacy from 1990 until her retirement in 2005. She was a former member of Pleasant Hill Christian Church and was currently a member of Hope Lutheran Church in Brighton, Iowa. Mary enjoyed wintering in Texas, square dancing and was a member of the Washington Shirts and Skirts Club and the Mt. Pleasant Promenaders Club. She enjoyed spending time and playing cards with her kids, grandkids and her U.P. Home family.

She is survived by seven children: David (Regina) Schantz of Washington, Iowa; Kathryn (Michael) Thompson of Brentwood, Tennessee; Alan Dean (Karen) Schantz of Strawberry Point, Iowa; Barbara (Wayne) Stevens of Manassas, Virginia; Mary (Craig) Manning of Brighton, Iowa; Linda (Dean) Timmins of Washington, Iowa; Rebecca (Craig) Mattson of Lockridge, Iowa; 22 grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. She is also survived by one brother, Donald (Dianne) Watson of Muscatine, Iowa; and sister-in-law, Doris Watson of Muscatine, Iowa.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald in 2016; one granddaughter, Elizabeth Manning; and three brothers, Blaine, David and Albert Watson.