Obituary of Mary Lee Gaffey

Mary Wanda Lee "Wanda" Gaffey, passed away Sunday, December 3, 2012, at Mercy Hospital Hospice in Iowa City after a short illness with breast cancer. Memorial Services will begin at 3:00 p.m, on Sunday, December 9, 2012, where visitation will be held 1 hour prior and following the memorial service. Private family inurnment will take place at Memory Gardens Cemetery, in Iowa City. Memorial donations can be made in her memory to Iowa City Hospice. Online condolences may be sent for her family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Wanda was born May 26, 1943, to Leo and Violet (Pressly) Gaffey in Iowa City, Iowa. After graduating from Iowa City High School in 1961, she worked at Paris Dry Cleaners. She then went on to work most her life at Varsity Cleaners, retiring recently. Wanda was a very loyal Hawkeye fan, especially enjoying their football games. She and her friend Linda often watched them on Linda's big screen TV. Her other 'football' love was the Kansas City Chiefs, but she loved almost any sport. She was very proud of the fact that she lived in her home for over sixty-one years, enjoying all the peonies, irises and especially the lilacs that bloomed every year. Wanda often enjoyed attending family functions with her "33rd" Gaffey cousins on Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. She also enjoyed going to celebrations in Holbrook, Iowa, the home of her paternal ancestors. Wanda enjoyed animals and shared "ownership" of her cat "Gracie" with her good friend Linda. She was well known throughout the neighborhood as she walked with Linda's dogs. Wanda is survived by her brother Leo Wayne Gaffey, Jr.; two nieces, Tiffany Phillips and Jennifer Steward; and grandnieces. She was preceded in death by her father Leo in 1999 and her mother Violet in 2003.