Ginny Clarey

 Mary Virginia “Ginny” Clarey, age 101 of Orange City, IA, formerly of Sibley, IA died Friday, May 12, 2023, at Prairie Ridge Nursing Home in Orange City, IA.

A private service for family will be at 11:00 am Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at the Holman Township Cemetery in Sibley, IA, with Pastor Ryan Austin officiating. There will be a public celebration of life at 11:00 am on Saturday, July 8, 2023, at the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall in Sibley, IA.

Mary Virginia (Everett) Clarey was born in Richmond VA, April 15, 1922, to Zether Early and Lyda Roland (Hamilton) Everett. She moved with her family as a young girl to the Kirkwood region of Atlanta, GA. She graduated from Girls High School in Atlanta and Mercer College in Macon, GA.

Ginny enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) in the Fall of 1944. She was stationed in Hot Springs, AR, where she met and married Joseph Emert Clarey, Jr. in June 1946. After their military discharge they started married life in Ames, IA while attending Iowa State College and living in Pammel Court. Married life took her to Racine, WI, Ida Grove, IA and Sibley, IA. Ginny was a homemaker for three children, JoEllyn, Candace and John. She was a licensed insurance agent and worked alongside Joe to help build their business.

Ginny was an excellent cook. She was active in Kiwanis activities, Cub Scouts, Women’s Circle, teaching Sunday School and Bible School as well as many other activities. She was part of the women’s group that met weekly to pray for family and friends. Ginny loved to have missionaries in her home and helped to support many missionaries and organizations.

Ginny loved to travel with Joe along with church friends, such as Roger and Dorothy Helmers and Kenneth and Katherine Winkowitsch. After Joe passed away, she enjoyed traveling in the Elderhostel program and wintering in Winter Haven, FL with her sister Ruth and Dee Lovell. In later years Ginny enjoyed being a part of Silver Sneakers, the Dinner Date program and Relay for Life as a cancer survivor.

Her family and friends will remember Ginny as a woman who was kind, generous, filled with grace and dignity. She loved her family and enjoyed following her grandchildren’s activities. She especially enjoyed sharing her love of board games with the family. She loved seeing her great-grandchildren come to visit.

She is survived by daughter JoEllyn Clarey and Robert Franciosi of Grand Rapids, MI, son John and Shelly Clarey of Orange City, IA, son-in-law Kirk and Becki Huisenga of Spirit Lake, IA. Grandchildren, Sarah Huisenga and Stephen Feder, Joseph Clarey and Jennie Hanstein & Thomas and Angel Clarey. Great-grandchildren, Eli Feder, Amelia Hanstein, Ben Hanstein, Jack Clarey, Rhett Clarey, Porter Clarey & Blakely Clarey. Beloved nieces & nephews, Vicki Vicino (Ed) Post, Jeanne Lovell, Don Lovell, David Lovell & Caroline Lovell.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Zether & Lyda Everett, husband, Joseph E. Clarey, Jr., daughter Candace A. Huisenga, granddaughter Alison Huisenga, sister and brother-in-law Ruth & S.D. Lovell, sister and brother-in-law Sarah & Oliver Worley and sister-in-law and brother-in-law Lyndle & Walter Vicino.

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