MARY LOU ENGLAND

Mary Lou England, daughter of Louis Frank and Louise H. (Matus) Votava, was born October 24, 1928 in Omaha, Nebraska. The family moved to Clearfield, Iowa in May of 1942. Mary Lou attended and graduated from Clearfield High School.
On August 30, 1947, she was united in marriage to Paul Martin “Buck” England in Bedford, Iowa. Mary Lou and Buck lived on farms in the Clearfield area until 1960 when they moved onto a farm southwest of Clearfield that would become their home. After Buck passed away Mary Lou moved to a house in town that they had renovated and were moving to for retirement.
Mary Lou was a farm wife and homemaker. She would plant big gardens in the spring and would can the produce to be used throughout the year. Mary Lou was the “Queen of catalogs” as she loved to get catalogs and would purchase random and humorous items for her family. She had a beautiful voice and loved to sing while working around the house. She enjoyed watching “Keeping Up Appearances” and Mrs. Bucket. When telephones had party lines she would talk to relatives in Czech to keep others from eavesdropping on their conversations. She was a dedicated and faithful member of the Clearfield United Methodist Church and U.M.W., she belonged to the 17 Club and she enjoyed playing bridge. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were her pride and joy and she doted on them all. She spent many hours in her breakfast nook playing Playdoh with grandkids and great grandkids.
Buck and Mary Lou enjoyed traveling to various places around Iowa, the United States and even to Hawaii.
Mary Lou passed away on May 17, 2019 at Greater Regional Hospice Home in Creston, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Paul “Buck” England, on November 7, 1998; siblings, Blanche (Jerry) Fillipi, Louis Votava, James Votava, Henrietta Rood, Alice Sedlak and a brother in infancy, Frank Votava.
Survivors include her three children, Dave and wife, Pam, and Doug and wife, Priscilla, all of Clearfield, daughter, Lori Christensen, and husband, Dan, of Leon; grandchildren, Heather Lillie and husband, Bob, Craig England and wife, Jennifer, Steve England and wife, Megan, Charlie England and wife, Kati, Wade England and friend, Barb Brokaw, Thad England and wife, Rachel, Cole Christensen and wife, Jeana, Garrett Christensen and wife, Kelsie, Connor Christensen and wife, Chelsie; great grandchildren Taylor, Merik and Aiden Gaule, Eva and Bohdin England, Jordan and Chase England, Devon, Cael, Trey England and Makailey Turnbull, Jordan, LaraLynn, Laretta, and Graeson England, Ruby and Cora England, Everett and Gable Christensen, Nolan and Aria Christensen and Caidence Christensen; sisters-in-law, Ann Votava, of Lenox, IA, Jean Votava of Diagonal, IA, Maxine Round of Mount Ayr, Fern Pettingill of Vacaville, CA and Irene Pankau of Grant City, MO; brother-in-law, Jim (Rose Mary) Rood of Fairfield, IA; several nieces and nephews including special nieces, Colleen Haglan-Lynch and Sheila Brown; other relatives and friends. Armstrong Funeral Home in Clearfield and Mount Ayr is in charge of the arrangements.
Services were at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at the United Methodist Church in Clearfield, Iowa.
Officiating was Rev. Michael Shaffer.
Pianist was Patty Parrish. Vocalist was Cole Christensen. Songs were “How Great Thou Art” and “The Old Rugged Cross:.
Casket bearers were Heather Lillie, Craig England, Steve England, Charlie England, Wade England, Thad England, Cole Christensen, Garrett Christensen and Connor Christensen.
Burial was at the Clearfield Cemetery in Clearfield, Iowa.
Memorials are in her name to be decided later.