Obituary of Grace M. Mackerman

Grace M. (Gifford) Mackerman, 93, of Newton, passed away Thursday evening, January 24, 2013, at Carriage of Newton. Funeral Services for Grace, will be held 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 30, 2013, at the Pence-Reese Funeral Home in Newton. Visitation will be 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 29, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Newton Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials are being designated in Grace's name to: Skiff Hospice or Pleasant View United Methodist Church, and may be left at the funeral home. Grace, the daughter of Henry D. and Marie (Scarbrough) Gifford, was born December 23, 1919, rural Killduff. She attended rural schools in Elk Creek and Buena Vista Townships, graduating from Newton Senior High, Class of 1938. She went on to Normal Training, and taught school for several years. On Sept. 6, 1941, Grace was united in marriage with Fred L. Mackerman in Bethany, Missouri. She had devoted her life to her family and friends, and attended Pleasant View United Methodist Church, rural Newton. Grace will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her. She enjoyed crafts, crocheting, needlepoint, later rubber stamping. Those left to honor Grace's memory include her three children: daughter Karla S. (Terry) Collins of Newton; sons: Francis L. "Mack" (Mary) Mackerman of San Tan Valley, AZ and Richard H. (Sue Revell) Mackerman of Reasnor; daughter-in-law Ila Mackerman of Chandler, AZ, her seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; her sister Wyonne Sylvester of Lake Wood, CO; brothers: Clinton Gifford of Kellogg and Vernon Gifford of Berger, MO; several nieces and nephews; and her many friends. Grace was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Fred on Nov. 1, 1994; a granddaughter in infancy; her son Frederick L. Mackerman; daughter-in-law Nancy Mackerman; three sisters and brothers-in-law: Jessie & Orville Murphy, Valeta & Wayne Van Dalen and Virginia & Keith Kleinendorst.