Mary Ann Kirby, age 85, of Newburg, died on Saturday, September 23, 2014, at Grinnell Regional Medical Center. A funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m., Thursday, September 25, 2014, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell with the Rev. John Davidson officiating. Pallbearers are Jacob Lacy, Jessie Dudley, Rex Gray, John Witts, David Graham, and Adam Loomos. Honorary bearers are Allan Moyer, Jerry Gray, Burt Selle, Leroy Runner and Nelson Thomas. Interment will be in Prairie View Cemetery in Gilman. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home and the family will be present to greet friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday evening. Memorial contributions may be designated in her name to PALS (Poweshiek Animal League Shelter) and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.smithfh.com. Mary Ann was born the daughter of George Grant Cook and Fern Gertrude (Brown) Cook on July 29, 1929, in Grinnell, Iowa. She was raised on the family farm south of Grinnell and attended country schools. The family then farmed near Newburg and she graduated from the Newburg High School with the class of 1947. Mary Ann was united in marriage to Donald Rex Kirby on September 1, 1948, in Leon, Iowa and the couple made their home on family farm near Newburg. Rex and Mary Ann She was a homemaker for several years and in 1962, she began working at the Newburg school as a cook. She later was a cook for the Grinnell school district. Mary Ann had a strong work ethic, which began at a young age detasseling corn and milking cows. She held a special love for her cats and dogs. Her enjoyments included gardening, canning, cooking, reading, solving puzzles, dancing, and listening to country music. She is survived by three children, Connie Kirby of Stillwater, Oklahoma, Dianne (Don) Loomos of Lynden, Washington, and Steve (Ruth) Kirby of Grinnell; four grandchildren, Nick, Adam and Matthew Loomos, and Tammy Dudley; three great grandchildren, Jacob Lacy, Jesse Dudley, and Lynnea Loomos; and her sister, Shirley (Allan) Moyer of Grinnell. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Rex Kirby in 2012; and a sister, Hazel Faye Cook, who died in infancy.