Mary Frances Robson Hathaway

GALVA - Mary Frances Robson Hathaway, 80, of Galva died at 3:30 a.m., Saturday, July 30, 2016 at Courtyard Estates in Galva surrounded by her husband and children.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 3, at Rux Funeral Home in Galva. Pastor Jeff Goard will officiate. Visitation will be held Tuesday, August 2 from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Galva Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to The Bishop Hill Heritage Association, Oak Run First Responders and The Galva Arts Council.

Mary was born July 2, 1936, on the family farm in Burns Township to Lloyd and Emily (Shimmin) Robson.  She married Jack Hathaway on December 29, 1959 in Kewanee, IL. Mary is survived by her husband, her daughter, Anne Hathaway of Indianapolis, IN and her son,  John (Angela)Hathaway of Galva. Three grandchildren Abigail (Tony) Segura, Colby (Caitlin) Hathaway, and Drew Fox as well as two step grandchildren, Lyndsey and Derek Heise. Three great granddaughters Adelyn, Alizabeth, and Anabel, and a great grandson due in November. She is also survived by her sisters, Doris Friend formerly of Cambridge and now Courtyard Estates of Galva and Roberta O’Hara of Fenton, MI, two nephews David and Timothy O’Hara  and their families. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Mary graduated from Galva High School in 1954. She attended Monmouth College, graduated from the University of Illinois and was a member of Alpha XI Delta Sorority. Prior to her marriage she was Assistant Director of Rock Island County Home Extension. Jack and Mary purchased Swank’s Hardware Store in Galva in 1969 and have owned and operated it with help from their son as Hathaway’s Plumbing, Heating and True Value Hardware for over 47 years.  Mary was also proprietress of Hathaway’s Gift Barn and Mary’s Simple Treasures in Galva and Bishop Hill. She served for many years on the Board of Directors of the Midwest Hardware Association. Mary loved retail and her customers became her friends. She loved to select gifts to sell in the store and she was known for the unique selection of  Christmas trees, ornaments, gifts and décor in the Old Fashioned Christmas Store. Customers knew to ask Mary for what they needed and she would run upstairs or to the backroom and reappear moments later with the perfect item.

Mary and her husband were Grand Marshals of the 2009  Galva 4th of July parade. She was proud of her Manx heritage and attended meetings of the local Manx Association, was a member of The First Congregational Church of Galva, The Galva Woman’s Club, Lake Calhoun Women’s Auxiliary and Henry County Homemakers Extension. She loved to spend time with her family, play bridge, and was a diehard Chicago Cubs fan.   She was active in the Republican Party and she and her husband attended the Inaugurations of President Ronald Reagan in 1980 and 1984 and President George H.W. Bush in 1988 as well as the 2008  Republican National Convention in Minneapolis. Mary will be remembered for her hard work and work ethic, her kindness and generosity as well as her impish sense of humor and big smile.

The Hathaway family would like to publicly thank and acknowledge the quality nursing and care team at Galva Courtyard Estates as well as the caregivers that Mary referred to as “her girls”.  Thank you so much for loving her and caring for her with such passion over the last few months.

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