Marilyn "Mary" Piper

Marilyn Joyce “Mary” Piper, 94, formerly of Cedar Falls, Iowa, died Thursday, March 14, 2024, of natural causes at Bishop Drumm Retirement Center, Johnston, Iowa. She was born on January 13, 1930, in Plainfield, Iowa, to Gailerd Leroy Smith and Helen Viola (Smith) Smith. The family moved to Cedar Falls in 1944, and Marilyn graduated from Cedar Falls High School in 1947. She was united in marriage to Gerald Lloyd Piper on April 16, 1950, at The Little Brown Church in the Vale, Nashua, Iowa. Marilyn and Gerald raised their family in Cedar Falls. She retired from Viking Pump Co. (IDEX Corp.) in 1992, after 25 years of service in the main office. Marilyn enjoyed golf, cross-country skiing, reading, attending arts festivals, and spending time with her family. In later years she was an avid word search puzzler and “Jeopardy” devotee. She was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church (now Prairie Lakes Church) in Cedar Falls, where she was a member of the Missions Committee and the Mary-Faith Circle. She moved to Johnston, Iowa in 2010, residing at Bishop Drumm Retirement Center in Johnston since 2015. She enjoyed attending St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Des Moines, Iowa, and later at non-denominational church services at Bishop Drumm. She is survived by son Michael J. Piper of Grimes, Iowa; grandchildren Tonya J. Picknell of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Ryan T. Piper; great-grandchildren Katherine (Anthony) Tesillo, Cody Picknell, Scot Picknell, Chuck Fecht, Khloe Piper, and Lucas Piper; great-great-grandchildren Adalynn Piper and Remy Piper; and sister Judith I. (Norman) Carbiener of Geneseo, Illinois. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband; daughter Debra Deonne Piper; sons Marc Alan Piper and Jeffrey Scott Piper; granddaughter Teresa Lynn Cochrane; great-granddaughter Britny Ann Piper; and sister Bonnie Gail Jermier. Visitation and viewing will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at Richardson Funeral Service, Cedar Falls, Iowa. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, March 21, 2024, at Richardson Funeral Service, the Rev. Liane Nichols officiating, with visitation and viewing one hour before service time. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery, Cedar Falls. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to the family, or to the March of Dimes (www.marchofdimes.org).

Marilyn "Mary" Piper

January 13, 1930 - March 14, 2024