Mary Rickey

Mary K. Rickey, 97, of Seaton, Illinois died Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at Courtyard Estates of Monmouth.

Visitation is Wednesday, February 15^th from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Dennison Funeral Home, Aledo.  Funeral service is 10:00 a.m. Thursday, February 16^th at Center Presbyterian Church, Seaton.  Burial will be in Greenmound Cemetery, Keithsburg. Memorials may be left for Center Presbyterian Church, Seaton Fire Department, or Keithsburg Fire Department.

Mary was born to William A. Dryden and Viera Faye Hornbaker Dryden on March 24, 1925 in Galesburg Cottage Hospital.  Mary attended Keithsburg schools, graduating in 1943 as the class salutatorian.  In the fall of 1943, she enrolled into MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois.  The spring of 1945, Mary transferred to Iowa State University. In 1948 she earned a degree in Institutional Management in the College of Home Economics.  For six months she was employed at Purdue University and for a brief time taught school in Keithsburg.  Mary wed Homer Rickey on December 24, 1948 in the Keithsburg Methodist Church.  Mary and Homer moved west of Seaton, where they farmed for over 58 years.  Together they lived in that home until Homer’s passing in 2006; Mary lived in that home for over 71 years.  Homer and Mary lived, worked, and enjoyed their life on their farm growing and nurturing crops, livestock, and their children.  They enjoyed traveling in the United States and Europe, mostly with their family.

Mary was active in many organizations including Iowa State Alumni, Mercer County Homemakers Extension, Episcopal Quincy Diocese Advisory Committee, Mercer County Farm Bureau, and as an active P.E.O. member for 76 years.  Mary also did some judging for 4-H at the Mercer County Fair and was a 4-H leader in the 1960’s.  Mary was a member of Keithsburg Methodist Church, Trinity Episcopal Church of Monmouth, and attended Center Presbyterian Church of Seaton. 

Mary enjoyed gardening both food and flowers, cooking, and pastry making.  She loved her cats as well as bird watching.  For most of 50 years, Mary made wonderful clothes for her family from prom dresses to Halloween costumes.

Survivors include her children:  Elizabeth and Anthony Stadler of Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin and Paul Rickey of Seaton, Illinois; grandchildren:  Konrad and Leah Garrett of Pekin, Illinois, Thera and Rob Novotny of Chicago, Illinois, Matthew Rickey of Monmouth, Illinois, and Laura and Cory Bach of St. Frances, Wisconsin; great grandchildren; as well as a cousin, raised like a sister, Catherine Frugoli, whom she dearly loved.

Online condolences may be left at www.dennisonfuneralhome.com.