Obituary of Mary Lou Fairchild

Mary Lou Fairchild, 67, of 1356 Emily Court, Iowa City, died at University of Iowa Hospital Monday, June 4, 2007 following a courageous battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Friday, June 8, 2007 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Iowa City, with Father Ed Fitzpatrick officiating. Burial will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 Thursday evening at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service. A prayer vigil will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home Memorial donations may be made to The Mary Lou Fairchild Physical Therapy Award through the University of Iowa Foundation, C/O The Levitt Center, Iowa City, IA. Online condolences may be sent to her family through the web @www.gayandciha.com. Mary Louise was born on June 9, 1939 in Moline, IL to Ernest and Rachel (DeSmet) Veys. She graduated from Alleman High School in Rock Island, IL, Clarke College in Dubuque and The University of Iowa Physical Therapy program. On June 13, 1961, Mary Lou married Ron Fairchild in Morrison, IL. Mary Lou was employed by The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics as a Physical Therapist for 37 years until her retirement in 2001. She was a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, the Iowa Chapter of the APTA and the American Pain Society. She was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority where she served as General Advisor to the University of Iowa Chapter for fifteen years. Mary Lou loved to read, travel and attend all of her grandchildren’s activities, concerts and games. Mary Lou’s family includes her husband, Ron, daughter Becky Graf and her husband, Rick, grandchildren Kevin Graf and Emily Graf, all of Iowa City, a brother, Maurie Veys, of Laguna Hills, CA, one uncle, M.A. DeSmet, of Lompoc, CA, two nephews and one niece. She was preceded in death by her parents, one aunt and one nephew. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service of Iowa City is caring for Mary Lou’s family and her services.