Mary Alice Perry, 89, of West Des Moines and formerly of Ottumwa, died at 6:07 a.m. February 16, 2026 at her residence in West Des Moines.
She was born December 17, 1936 in Memphis, MO to George David and Ruby Brassfield Smith. Mary married Donald E. Agee on July 29, 1956 and they had 3 children together.
Growing up in Kirksville, MO, she graduated from Kirksville High School in 1954. After school, Mary worked for a local shoe manufacturer. Most importantly, she was a wonderful homemaker and mother. Mary worked at Hall of Fabrics in downtown Ottumwa and for Ottumwa Schools in food service. She also worked in various retail stores in Quincy Place Mall, operated an in-home bakery, “Choice Selections”, was a licensed realtor and helped with Guest House Bed and Breakfast.
Mary had been a member of Davis Street Christian Church where she was an Elder and taught adult Sunday School as well as was a member and lay minister of First United Methodist Church in Ottumwa. Since 2016 she has resided in West Des Moines, with her son, Don, where she attended St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church. Mary was a member of the Red Hat Society, Ottumwa Women’s Club and a local writer’s group. She enjoyed writing skits, poems and short stories for others. Mary also enjoyed dressing up as various characters, doing doll restoration and was a wonderful seamstress.
Surviving are her children, Sue (Dan) Weber of Hedrick, Connie Agee of Ottumwa and Don Agee Jr. of West Des Moines; 4 grandchildren, Brandy (Chad) Septer of Fairfield, Austin (Tamara) Crowe of Hedrick, Mark Weber of Batavia and Kortney Baumberger of Hedrick; and 7 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents and 4 brothers, George Smith Jr., Ward Smith, Wayne Smith, and Charles Smith.
Visitation will be open at 10 a.m. Thursday, February 19th at Reece Funeral Home with the family present to greet friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 20th, at Reece Funeral Home with Rev. Kyle Carswell officiating. Burial will be in Shaul Cemetery.
A memorial service to further celebrate her life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 28th at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in West Des Moines.
Memorials may be made to St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in West Des Moines or Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus DMGMC.
