Mrs. Mary Louise Crees

Mrs. Mary Louise Crees, 81, of Corning, passed away Saturday, October 16, 2021 at Corning Specialty Care. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, October 21, 2021 at the Grant United Methodist Church. Pastor Jennifer Van Nordstrand and Pastor Jessica Jacobsen will officiate. The family will greet friends at a luncheon following the service in the church fellowship hall. Private family burial will be in the Pleasant Township Cemetery in Griswold. Memorial Contributions may be directed to Corning Specialty Care or the Grant United Methodist Church. Memories and condolences can be left at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.

Mary Louise Gustin, the daughter of John Archer and Anna Marie (Wall) Gustin was born on January 30, 1940 in Glidden, Iowa. She was involved in school plays and very social while attending Griswold High School graduating with the class of 1958. After high school, Mary worked as a waitress at the Grant Café and the Tenville Junction Café.

On April 14, 1962 Mary was united in marriage to Glenn Archer at the Grant United Methodist Church. Three girls would bless this union: Brenda, Lauri and Renee. During her and Glenn’s married life Mary was a homemaker and farmwife. She was focused on raising her girls and tending to the needs of the farm, which she was very proud of. Mary and Glenn separated and divorced later on.

On July 3, 1994, Mary united in marriage with “Chuck” Crees in Corning. The two shared the same joy of life and had many wonderful years together before Chuck’s passing in 2002.

Mary cleaned houses in Corning for 35 years, but her caring personality led her to go above and beyond just cleaning and be a generous friend as well. Her life-long passion was caring for others and she always put other’s needs before her own. Her beautiful smile, positive attitude, and tenacious spirit charmed everyone that knew her.

Mary enjoyed gardening, tending to her flowers, cooking and watching Iowa Hawkeyes football and basketball games. But her biggest joy in life was her grandchildren. She would be sure to attend all their activities no matter how far she had to travel, and her spirited nature always had her playing with the grandkids rather than sitting at the “grown-ups table.”

Mary was a member of the Grant United Methodist Church, where she loved teaching Sunday School, participating in Bible Study and singing in the choir. She also attended the Corning United Methodist Church and was just as active there teaching Sunday School and leading the youth choir.

Left to cherish Mary’s beloved memory are her daughters: Brenda (Keith) Longabaugh of Corning, IA, Lauri (John) Hewett of Red Oak, IA, and Renee (Brad) Durnin of St. Louis, MO; grandchildren: Amber (Cody) Ladd, Keegan Longabaugh, Ethan Hewett, Anna Durnin, Dax Durnin, Madison Hewett and Grayson Hewett; sisters: Lois Shafer of Stanton, IA and Leota Meyer of Red Oak, IA; brother, John Wayne (Anamary) Gustin of Red Oak, IA; sister-in-law, Barb Gustin of Rockton, IL along with many other relatives and friends, including all the special friends at the nursing home.

Preceding Mary in death were her parents, John and Anna; husband, Chuck; two brothers: Dave and Jim Gustin; and nephew, Matthew Gustin.