She was born on December 9, 1948, in Grinnell, Iowa to Stanley and Ruby Butler Ahrens. She was raised on the family farm near Grinnell and attended rural schools. In 1967, she graduated from Grinnell-Newburg High School and later attended the University of Northern Iowa. Following her education she worked in a Grinnell law firm and later operated a secretarial service in Des Moines. She also worked in the marketing department at the former Stadium's Unlimited Company in Grinnell. On May 24, 1986, she was married to Rick Curphy in Las Vegas, NV. The couple resided in Denver, Colorado and Phoenix, AZ before moving to Grinnell in September of 1990. Mary was employed for First Realty in Grinnell and later owned and operated Iowa Realty in Grinnell. She was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church and sang in the church choir. She was Past President of the Grinnell-Newburg School Board, Past President of the Poweshiek County Board of Realtors and was a member of the Iowa Republican Women's Organization. She was a foster mother for over twenty children and served as a coach with the Odyssey of the Mind program. Survivors include her husband, Rick Curphy of Grinnell; her children, Joel Morrison of Brooklyn, NY, Kari Gosselink of Grinnell, Angelia Barton of Cedar Rapids, Joseph Clayton Curphy of Gilman, Walter Chad Curphy and Melinda Diane Curphy, both of Kansas City, MO; seven grandchildren; two brothers, Paul Ahrens and Don Ahrens, both of Grinnell; and her sister, Norma Fritz of Carlyle, IL. She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Raymond Ahrens. Memorials may be directed to the Trinity Lutheran Church.