Maryann Jeri Garrison

Maryann Jeri Garrison, 82, of Winterset, passed away on Monday, August 26, 2024 at her home. She had been fighting many illnesses for the preceding three months and after many hospitalizations, elected to return home and be with her friends and family during her final hours.

She was born in Winterset, Iowa on January 12, 1942 to Alferd and Emma (Gonseth) Binns. She graduated from Winterset High School in 1960.

Maryann married her first husband, Hugh Frank Livingston, and this union was blessed with two lovely daughters, Rhonda and Donna. During this time, she pursued a career in cosmetology. She enlisted in the Army Reserve and began training in the medical support field with the 830th Station Hospital. At the same time, she became the secretary to Dr. Kramer at the College of Osteopathic Surgery. Maryann met Ralph (Reggie) Garrison at the Fort Des Moines Training Center where he drilled with the Navy Seabees. They fell in love and were married on May 7, 1974. They were granted custody of the girls in 1975.

Maryann was highly creative and enjoyed expressing these talents in a variety of ways. Some of which included pottery, stained glass, quilting, sewing, gardening, painting, furniture re-finishing, and cooking. She and Reg enjoyed watching cooking shows.

Employed by Northwestern Bell Telephone Operator District Office, she began a career that covered the transition to US West and totaled 20 years. Supporting her children led to community involvement with the MCJROTC Drill Teams and with the Telephone Pioneers Clown Group. After her retirement from the company, she made one quilt and then bored with inactivity, went to work for the new Altoona Walmart for the next seven years until her second retirement.

Moving to the family farm in Winterset, she enjoyed interactions with her brother and sister. One of her great joys was attending the Wednesday jams at the Chicken Inn in Creston and visiting with all her friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Alferd and Emmagene Binns and sister, Katherine (Binns) Herrick.

Maryann is survived by her husband, Ralph (Reg) Garrison; daughters, Rhonda Livingston and Donna Thrap (Jim); granddaughters, Felicia Ewoldt, Amanda DeMaris (Clifford), and Kendra Haskin (Caydon); great-grandchildren, Emily Davis, Lonna DeMaris, Kenley Haskin and Cayson Haskin; brother, Earl Binns; nieces and nephews, Robert Herrick (Julie) and Susan McDonald (Dave); and uncle and aunt, Charles Gonseth (Marilyn).

A Celebration of Life will be held from 4 PM to 7 PM, Friday, September 13, 2024, at the Jackson Building (1146 Summit Street, Winterset, adjacent to the Madison County Fairgrounds). Interment will be at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Green Rogers American Legion Post 184 (greenrogers184.com) and/or the Iowa Veterans Cemetery (34024 Veterans Memorial Drive, Adel).