Mary Denny

Mary was born in the small town of Macedonia, Iowa in 1938, the first daughter of a cattle farmer, a firecracker from the jump, bold and fierce; a woman who outran her era. Her early years unfolded in wide-open fields, but after high school her folks moved her to the big city, Omaha. This is where she locked eyes with her soulmate, Bill; the man who'd become her rock. They fell hard! It was a classic '50s love story, bound by a deep, unshakable love that never faltered-not once did their kids see them clash. They were a united front, a team that faced the world as one.

Initially, Mary worked as a secretary. Her fingers flew across the typewriter, sharp as a whip with numbers and with problem-solving. With her husband, they built the successful Midwest Fence Company. She handled the books and payroll with precision, her mind a steel trap for figures. Later, she tackled taxes for the IRS, always steady, always sharp.

But her heart beat wild for the outdoors-exploring and chasing the horizon. She camped and hunted alongside her husband. But the Southwest stole her soul; its deserts and vibrant art spoke to her restless spirit. She soaked up life, craving every experience, from the dust of a trail to the thrill of a new town.

Beginning in the '70s Mary and her man poured their hearts into a shooting range for silhouette shooters in Louisville, Nebraska. She was a crack shot. Her hand-eye coordination was a thing of beauty. She ran those matches like a maestro-scoring, crowning winners, making it all hum. Together Mary & Bill launched Offhand, a magazine tracking marksmanship across the country. You could read their passion on every page for 20 years. Their fervent enthusiasm for the sport locally, plus their annual treks to Arizona for the National Silhouette Championship, filled their den with trophies-hundreds of them, including Mary's national top score, a shining moment of triumph.

In 1958, Mary and her husband welcomed their son, Mark, followed by three daughters in a whirlwind five years: Susan, Christine, and Edith. She raised them with fierce love, firmly planting family and manners into their bones, readying them for polite society. She was their rock, always there-whether it was a loan, a couch to crash on, or a leg up when life got heavy. Even when it cramped her own style, she did what was right, no question, despite how she may have been feeling on any given day. Her truth cut like a knife, never sugar coated. But her love ran deeper than any grudge. She stood up to anyone, no matter their size. In the rough early days in the Projects, she was a tiny red-headed titan with a giant persona backing down the bullies and the gangs. She was a trailblazer for parents disenfranchised with public school system overreach. When a teacher or a school stepped out of their lane, she was there to make a course correction.

Mary kept secrets like a vault and mostly held her opinions close unless asked-then you got the unfiltered truth. She was an unabashed patriot. She pointed her kids to Jesus. Her kids knew where she stood, and they knew she'd fight for them, for what was right and for what mattered: God, Family, Country. She and her husband built a life brimming with adventure, love, and grit. Their bond was a beacon for all their family to follow. Their legacy is a fire that still burns in those they touched, including 12 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, and 3 great great grandchildren.

Mary Clayton Denny, age 87, passed away on July 1, 2025 in Columbia, Tennessee. She was preceded in death by her husband of over 63 years, William (Bill) James Denny, and her parents John & Helen Clayton of Macedonia, Iowa. Mary is survived by her sister Martha Killion, her brother David Clayton (Janet), and her dearest and OLDEST friend Dee Leaden, as well as her four children: Mark Denny (Cathy Marlene), Susan Denny, Christine Milone (Mark), and Edith Hamilton (Robert).

Her grandchildren are: William (Billy) Robert Denny, Jennifer Washington (d.) (Will), Jessica Denny, Sarah Potter (Travis), Katie Goshert (Josh), Amanda Conklin (Bob), Candice Milone, Louis Milone (Allison), William Jacob Milone (Elycarls), John Milone (Karelyns), Patrick Hamilton (Ashley), and Virginia Hamilton (Tony Hensen).

Her great grandchildren are: Cadence Denny, Kiona Harrington (John Ruiz-Andujar), Annese Washington, Messiah Washington (d), Darrek Lode, Drayson Lode, Kaylor Lode, Trevor Potter, Oliver Potter, Tristan Potter, Maverick Potter, Maximus Potter, Aaron Goshert, Abigail Goshert, Andrew Goshert, Anna Goshert, Asher Goshert, Asiel Goshert, Adelaide Conklin, Colton Conklin, Stella Milone, Amaya Hamilton, Violet Hamilton, Poppy Hamilton

Her great great grandchildren are: Ezra Ruiz-Andujar, Zachariye Ruiz-Andujar, Aziel Ruiz-Andujar.

May God grant Mary eternal peace and let His perpetual light shine upon her. Amen.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home on Thursday, July 17, 2025. Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 AM at Macedonia Community Church of Iowa on Friday, July 18, 2025. Interment is in the Macedonia Cemetery.