Mary Lou Christy, 79 years, of Fort Madison, Iowa died at 1:04 am Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at the Fort Madison Community Hospital, Fort Madison, Iowa. She was born November 19, 1932 at Keokuk County, Iowa, a daughter of Howard Ralph and Edith (Roberts) Wells. On December 6, 1952, she married Doyle Aubrey Christy at Ottumwa, Iowa. He preceded her in death on April 11, 2007.

Mary Lou was a homemaker. She had been a resident of the area for 45 years. She enjoyed reading, Nascar, and in the past she enjoyed gardening and working with her flowers. She was of the Lutheran faith.

She was survived by two sons, Robert (wife Kathy) Christy, of Oceanside, California and Derrell Christy, of Springfield, Missouri; two daughters, Pauline Rainey, of Fort Madison, Iowa and Nancy (husband Stephen) Sandbothe, of Fort Madison, Iowa; one sister, Louise (husband Daniel) Wolfe, of Bellevue, Iowa; 9 grandchildren: Jena (husband Jeff) Breece, Chad Losey, Raegan (husband Kyle) Schulte, Haley Clover, Terence (wife Hameeda) Miller, Rhiannon (husband Scott) Hermann, John (wife Jessica) Sandbothe, Wendy (husband Bill) Flori, and Jessica (husband Cory) Chickering; 13 great grandchildren: Ryan Breece, Matthew Breece, Blaine Hermann, Aubrey Hermann, Graden Hermann, Olivia Sandbothe, Emmalyn Sandbothe, Dakota Chickering, Jayden Chickering, Savanah Chickering, Makenna Chickering, Bennett Flori, and Suleman Miller; numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two sisters, Ruth Wells and Maxine Verdier, and one grandson, Heath Olson.

Friends may call after 1:00 pm Friday, February 17, 2012 at the Barr Memorial Chapel, where the family will meet friends from 5:00 - 6:30 pm, Friday evening. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Saturday, February 18, 2012 at the Barr Memorial Chapel, with Pastor Bill Willis, officiating. Burial will be at Claypoole Cemetery. A memorial has been established, contributions may be made at the Barr Memorial Chapel.