Mary Louise (Nossaman) Roush was born November 12, 1930, the first of five children born to John E. (Ted) and Edith Nossaman near Leighton, Iowa. Growing up on the family farm, Mary developed a strong work ethic but often spoke of family music sessions where her father would play the fiddle and the “kids” would play various musical instruments together. Although she never had an official lesson, Mary played the guitar, piano and organ and was always quick to sing songs to her children and grandchildren.

Mary graduated from Oskaloosa High School in 1948 and continued her education at William Penn University and Central College. She graduated with her professional teaching certificate and taught at both Burr Oak and Centennial country schools near Pella after graduation. She ended her teaching career in 1960 at the Leighton School where she taught the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade.

Mary married Henry Lee Roush in 1950, and they were married for almost 60 years until Henry’s death in 2010. They had two children, Ted (1951) and Deanna (1961). Mary and Henry owned the Tulip City Barber and Beauty Shop in Pella from 1961 to 1976 where Mary worked and managed the beauty shop. Her work career also included Pella Plastics and Enduro where she often served as a “second mother” to her co-workers and frequently fed them home-cooked meals and treats. Throughout their marriage, Mary and Henry spent time with family, enjoyed camping, caring for animals on their farm, card night with friends, collecting antiques, especially Aladdin lamps, and traveling to California to visit relatives. A highlight of their marriage was going to Hawaii for their 50th anniversary with their children and grandchildren.

Mary was also very active at the First Baptist Church where she remained a member until her death. She served on the Board of Trustees, the Board of Missions, and led the Mary Martha Circle for over 15 years. For many years, she baked the bread for communion Sundays and donated and cleaned chickens for the Baptist Church ice cream social. She also baked, decorated, and donated dozens of birthday cakes throughout the years for church members who were over 80+ years old.

Mary was well-known for her baking and cake decorating talents, and she baked hundreds of wedding, birthday, and graduation cakes for the community and her family. She also baked and sold bread, pies, and cookies at the Pella Farmer’s Market and Apple Valley Meats & More in Oskaloosa for many years. Her children and grandchildren never celebrated a birthday or special event without a cake, brownies, or homemade cinnamon rolls, and she was infamous for her “Grandma Mary-sized” portions. Decorating cookies with Grandma was a holiday ritual, and she made sure her grandchildren knew how to decorate with frosting properly. They also received dozens of frozen cookies and pies as Christmas presents.

In her spare time, Mary crocheted hundreds of doilies, afghans, and prayer shawls for family and friends over the years. She made and donated newborn baby caps for the church and hospital right up to her passing. Mary was also an avid card player and often played bridge in her later years. She taught her kids and grandkids to play cards, and it was a “badge of honor” to beat her in a game of pitch or gin rummy! Mary loved watching her bird feeders each winter, enjoying the variety of birds, especially cardinals and orioles. She was also known for her ability to put together difficult jigsaw puzzles and could often be seen working on her latest puzzle.

Mary selflessly gave to her church, community, and strangers, but one of her most treasured legacies is the thousands of letters she wrote to her children, five grandchildren, and great-grandchildren when they left for college. She believed that getting mail was important, and regardless of the day’s events, she faithfully wrote and mailed a letter to everyone in college. In a world where email and texting are the “norm,” she unknowingly gained a faithful following with college friends of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who would look forward to, and often ask to be read one of Grandma Mary’s letters aloud.

Mary cherished time with her family and did not miss a family celebration. She insisted on continuing extended family Thanksgiving and Christmas and regularly went out to dinner with her brothers and sisters. She often gave the prayer at family gatherings and leaves her love for family and faith in Jesus Christ as her defining qualities. Mary died peacefully at home early on Thanksgiving morning, November 27, 2025. She no doubt celebrated Thanksgiving with her heavenly family that day.

Mary’s children and grandchildren:

Ted and Wanda Roush of Pella

      Valerie and Chad Huyser

          Camryn, Gage, Cor

     Andrea and Brian Meyer

          Aubrey, Olivia

     Allison and Sean Crow

          Elise, Kira

Deanna and Jeff Barrett of Omaha, Nebraska

     Alexandria and Keegan Lunn

          Sloane

     Riley Barrett

Siblings include: Wilma (late Billy) Brown, Lee (late Joan) Nossaman, Larry and Jeane Nossaman, and Kenneth and Marla Nossaman.

She was preceded in death by her husband Henry, father John E. and mother Edith Nossaman.

Memorials may be given to the First Baptist Church of Pella.