Mavis Darlene (Sparrgrove) Sheely, 86 of Cedar Rapids, passed into the Lord's hands on Friday, June 2, 2017 at her home surrounded by her family and friends.

Mavis was born December 14, 1930 in Johnson County to Charles and Rosa (Gladwin) Sparrgrove. She was the youngest of eight children. In her early years the family moved to Prairieburg, Iowa. Mavis graduated from Central City High School in 1948 where she played the clarinet in the band and made wonderful memories with her high school friend, Dora Wall. After graduation she came to the big city of Cedar Rapids and worked for H&W Trucking. In November 1949 Mavis married Francis J. Sheely of Coggon at Saint John's Catholic Church in Coggon. This began a 64 year adventure of raising eleven daughters, going to many garage sales, ironing white blouses every Sunday night for the school week, waiting for the Pep bus to come back at 11:00 p.m. in a blizzard and then the special times of seeing twenty-four grandchildren and twelve great-grand children born. Mavis and Francis so enjoyed traveling across the United States to visit all of these grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Alaska, Florida, Nebraska, Texas, Oregon and Iowa.

Mavis's favorite things to do were the daily crossword puzzle, crocheting, reading, taking pictures of birds, having a cup of coffee with her neighbors, visiting a casino every once in a while and best of ALL traveling with Francis as they never got lost.

Mavis was preceded in death by her parents, husband Francis (2014), daughters Cheryl Croy (2017) and Janet Johnson (2007), infant son, John, a granddaughter and grandson;
Siblings: Marie Stanton, Floyd Husted, Al Husted, Wilma Robinson and Evelyn Connor.

Mavis is survived by her daughters and their families: Marcia & Edward Engel, Ely, Iowa; Patricia & Curt Sheely-Adolphson, San Antonio, TX; Michelle Sheely, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Kristine & David Heeren, Bloomfield, IA; Jacqueline & Dave Patterson, Ladora, IA; Carleen & Jay Kirkland, Springfield, OR; Angela & Dave Kern, Johnston, IA; Roberta & Paul Cisar, Bellevue, NE; Melinda & Tod Keiffer, Crestview, FL; Son-in-Law, Ronald Croy, Phoenix, OR and Son-in-Law, Mark Johnson, Cedar Rapids, IA
24 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, brother Charles and sister-in-law Virginia Sparrgrove of Strawberry Point, sister Marvel Hill of Marion and sister-in-law Bernadine Smith of Phoenix, AZ. Her special friends/neighbors for over 50 years, Kris Stevens, Hank & Bev Burt and Dave & Sandy Fisher.

Mavis's family would like to extend a special warm "Thank you" to Hospice of Mercy staff who gave their support and assistance with a peaceful transition. Your support allowed us to stay close as a family, as we have always been, until the very end and we thank you (Kay, Christa, Kim, Jennifer, Lisa, Beth and Rebecca). To Sister Mary Fran Michalec of Saint Ludmila Catholic Pastoral Ministry, thank you for all of your support.

The family has chosen to set up a memorial in Mavis' name at a later date.

Funeral Mass: 10:00 a.m. Tuesday at Saint Ludmila Catholic Church by Father Dennis Juhl. Friends may call from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home East, 1228 2nd Street S.E., and after 9:00 A.M. Tuesday at the church. Interment will be at St. John's Cemetery with a luncheon following in the church hall.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.papich-kubafs.com under obituaries.