Mary Andrews

Mary Jane Andrews was born on April 28, 1937, in Aledo, Illinois, only child of Violet (Weeks) Morford and Allen Morford (died 1937), and was adopted later in life (1975) by stepfather Kenneth Meyer, a loving grandfather to her children. Mary Jane graduated in 1955 from Davenport High School and attended UNI, Cedar Falls, IA, and the American University of Beirut, Lebanon, where her Junior Year Abroad was sponsored by First Presbyterian Church, Davenport. This was a life-changing experience, and she maintained a strong interest in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict throughout her life. In 1958, after her year abroad, she met Robin Andrews in a youth hostel in Heidelberg, Germany. They married in 1960, in a small English village, and returned to the U.S. in 1961. She received a BA from UNI in 1959 and an MS from Iowa State University in 1965. She enjoyed 40 years as an educator, 12 as a teacher of English and 28 as a counselor in Davenport Community Schools, retiring from Sudlow Jr. High in 1998. In retirement she volunteered as a docent at Davenport’s Figge Art Museum. Memberships included St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Bettendorf, Alpha Chapter, Delta Kappa Gama and Chapter IB, P.E.O.  Mary Jane passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 18th. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robin (2018), and is survived by son, Jeffrey (Diana), New Castle, CO, and daughter, Susan Bennett (Mike Hippler), Wellington, OH, grandsons Nicholas and Luke Bennett. The Andrews family resided many years in the Iowa Quad-Cities.  Mary Jane loved spending time with family and her many friends. She enjoyed reading and travel, especially visiting family in England, and vacationing in Alabama. Known for her love of shopping, shoes, greeting cards, and tea parties, she was strong in faith and did not fear the next phase in her journey.  We will celebrate Mary Jane on Saturday, August 28th, at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Bettendorf, IA. Visitation will begin at 12:30 p.m., with a celebration of life at 2 p.m., also available online via Facebook Live (google search @SaintPetersIA).  Please no flowers. Memorials may go to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Bettendorf, Davenport’s Figge Art Museum, or the Davenport Schools Foundation. Should you attend the service, please wear bright colors in celebration of her life.