Mary Cecilia Rouse, 100, of Grundy Center, Iowa, died March 14, 2006, at the Grundy County Long Term Care Unit in Grundy Center under the care of the Cedar Valley Hospice.
Mary was born January 19, 1906, in Grundy County, Iowa, the daughter of Martin J. and Nora (Ryan) Connell. She attended rural school in Palermo Township. She graduated from Grundy Center High School in 1925. She taught school for 2 years in the rural school in Grundy County. She then went to work at the Grundy County Auditors office as a Deputy Auditor for 14 years. On June 8, 1939 she was united in marriage to Elden G. Rouse at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Grundy Center, and lived in Grundy Center until June 1944. In July 1944 they went to the Panama Canel Zone and were employed by the Government in the Industrial Division, she as clerk ? Typist, and he as a fireman for 16 years. In September 1960 they came back due to her father?s illness and death. While she was back she was approached by the County Recorder for the position as a Deputy Recorder. She resigned her position in the Canel Zone and worked as a Deputy Recorder for 12 years and the Recorder for 6 years retiring in December 1978. She was a member of the Holy family parish Sacred Heart Church in Grundy Center, the St. Martha?s Society and National Catholic Society of Foresters, a member of the I.P.E.R.S. Improvement Association and a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, the Panama Canal Society of Florida, Inc..
She is survived by her sister Loretta Stull of Eldora, Iowa and 7 nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Elden G. Rouse; two sisters: Kathryn Getting and an infant sister Louise Connell; 3 brothers: Francis, Leo and Raymond Connell.