Mary M. Jackson

Mary M. Jackson, 95, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, at the Cloverlodge Care Center in St. Edward. 

Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, with Pastor Mick Goc officiating. A lunch will follow at the parish center with inurnment afterwards at Dublin Cemetery in Primrose. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Monday at the church.

Levander Funeral Home of Albion is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family at: www.levanderfuneralhome.com.

Mary Margaret (Krings) Jackson was born on Jan. 21, 1930, to Raymond and Victoria (Micek) Krings at home in rural Boone County, southwest of Cedar Rapids.  Mary had one sibling, an older brother, David Krings. Mary was baptized and confirmed at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. Mary started school at Boone County District #29 in the first grade and did not attend kindergarten. She graduated from Cedar Rapids Public School in 1947. After graduation, Mary worked for Vanderheidens’ Hardware Store in Cedar Rapids. 

Mary was united in marriage to Raymond Primrose on Oct. 15, 1948, in Columbus. To this union, three children were born, William (Dave), Deborah and Dianne. Raymond and Mary lived a short time in Omaha, where she worked at the Mutual of Omaha before moving back to Primrose. She joined the Primrose Presbyterian Church, where she played the organ, directed the choir and taught Sunday School for many years and was a member of the Star Lite Group. 

Mary was a bookkeeper at heart – loving that job throughout her entire career. She worked at Jackson Motors in Cedar Rapids and in Primrose at T.B. Hord, Lightner Lumber, and Primrose Farmers Cooperative. Raymond and Mary parted ways in 1966.

Mary continued working for the COOP in Primrose until the merger, then at the COOP in Cedar Rapids until her retirement. After many years of courting…while on “vacation” Mary and Randall Adams were married in Fort Morgan, Colo., at the United Presbyterian Church on Aug. 25, 1988, which was quite a surprise to the family! Together, Mary and Randall loved to travel, golf, and winter in Casa Grande, Ariz. Randall passed away in 2000 of brain cancer. 

On Sept. 18, 2004, Mary was united to Richard (Dick) Jackson at the United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids. Dick had kept her Sweet 16 picture in his wallet all those years! Mary moved to Cedar Rapids. She joined the United Methodist Church and continued to play the piano and organ for church services and many funerals.  Mary and Dick continued to winter in Casa Grande until Dick’s passing in 2015.

Mary continued to live in her home until a little over a month before her 95th birthday. Through the years, she kept her house neat and tidy and was great cook, loving to try new recipes! She was never too busy for visitors, especially from her great-grandkids. She enjoyed when they played card games and colored pictures, then would enjoy ice cream which was always in the freezer.  Writing was another hobby/passion. For many years she wrote articles for the Cedar Rapids Press, especially about politics and what was going on in the United States, until her eyesight did not allow. She had a love for learning, always reading, keeping up on current events, and attending Bible Study. Her real love was spending time with her friends at the senior center and family.

Mary is survived by her son, Dave (Gayle) Primrose of Primrose; and daughters, Deb (John) Dickey of Cedar Rapids and Dianne (Brian) Shoemaker of Albion; nine grandchildren, Amy (Mike) Malander of Albion, Jennifer (Matt) Asche of Geneva, Katie (Kaleb) Lillienthal of Grand Island, Jessica (Mitch) Boyd of Primrose, Jackie Valasek of Albion, Allen (Angie) Primrose of Albion, Megan (Luke) Bonenberger of Grand Island, Eric (Karlie) Shoemaker of Norfolk and Kelsey Shoemaker of Norfolk; 19 great-grandchildren, Rachel Malander, Marisa Malander, Vincent Malander, Julianne Malander, Kenna (Jac) Marchand, Connor Asche Carson Asche, and Kamry Asche, Kaden Lillienthal, Riley (Daniel) Carraher, Jackson Boyd, Braden Leslie, Avery Valasek, Claire Primrose Brooklyn Primrose, Ava Primrose, Connor Primrose, Violet Shoemaker and Everett Shoemaker; one great-great-granddaughter, Carly Marchand.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Victoria (Micek) Krings; brother, David Krings; husbands, Randall Adams and Richard Jackson; Brothers-in-law, Gordon Adams and Rob Jackson; Sisters-in-law, Velma Krings, Margaret Primrose, Ruth Adams and Sally Jackson; and grandson-in-law, Jim Valasek.