In Loving Memory of Karen Marie Mayo
August 25, 1974 - March 16, 2025
Karen Marie Mayo was born August 25, 1974 to parents Ronnie and Yvonne Mayo, and completed her journey on this earth on March 16, 2025. The doctor who delivered her had a child of his own with Down syndrome, as well as the last doctor who attended her on March 16. She wasn’t expected to live to the age of 5; however, demonstrating her Mayo stubbornness, she lived 10 times that and made it to age 50.
The name Karen is of Danish origin, and means “pure,” and pure is exactly what she was. The qualities we enjoy most in young children are their innocence and transparency, and Karen retained those qualities her entire life. Never one to be picky, she would respond with “good food” when asked what she wanted to eat. If you asked what she wanted for Christmas, she would simply say, “Good stuff.” No matter what you gave her, she always said ‘thank you’ with a sweet, enthusiastic smile.
Karen was a fan of the color pink, Mickey Mouse, I Love Lucy, Flipper, and probably every song ever written that has a beat. Karen loved music, and could often be seen dancing and singing in her room. In her teen years, she enjoyed recording herself singing Christmas songs and songs by The Judds with her younger sister. With her older sister, she enjoyed going to the salon to get her toenails painted.
For most of her life, Karen enjoyed riding the family’s four-wheeler on her Pa-Paw Hilma’s land. However, in her older age, she was over it and was quick to let her momma and poppa know they had gone the wrong way when pulling up to the pasture. If you asked her if she wanted to go, she would say, “You go ahead” with a dismissive wave.
Karen seemed to enjoy people. Her eyes would shine atop her big pretty smile whenever someone interacted with her. She was always polite and courteous to others. While Karen absolutely would defend herself, she was never the first to be mean. Not one time. How many of us can say that? There’s a song in the movie/play Wicked called “No One Mourns the Wicked.” I would argue the opposite is true as well - that those as pure as Karen will be mourned more than most.
Dorothy R. Smith
March 29, 1927 - April 25, 2022 (95 years old)
DEWITT-Funeral services for Dorothy R. Smith, 95, of DeWitt, Iowa, will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, April 29, 2022, at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home, Bettendorf, Iowa. Burial will follow at Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery, Davenport, Iowa. Family will greet friends on Friday from 9:00 a.m. to service time at the funeral home.
Dorothy passed away on Monday, April 25, 2022, at WestWing Place, DeWitt. Dorothy Rahlf was born on March 29, 1927, in Davenport, the daughter of Carl and Euphemia (Moeller) Smith. She graduated from Davenport High School in 1945. She married Phillip Codling on November 19, 1948, in Davenport. He preceded her in death on August 9, 1984. She then married Warren Smith on November 30, 1991, in Bettendorf. He preceded her in death.
Dorothy worked at Northwestern Bell Telephone Co and later worked as a bartender at the 19th Hole. She did a lot of volunteer work at the Veteran's Administration and Luther Manor Generations. She was well known for blankets she made and sold, including "The Lord's Prayer".
Dorothy was a member of AARP, QC Plus 60 Club, American Legion Auxiliary #17, Ipava, Illinois, QC Diabetes Association, Bettendorf Parks and Recreation, Senior Citizen Club, RSVP volunteer at Veteran's Administration of Bettendorf, Drove #217, for the Eastern Star, Davenport Chapter #178. She was a long-time member of Our Savior Lutheran Church, Bettendorf, where she served as a Sunday school teacher.
Survivors include her sons, Thomas (Judy) Codling of Bettendorf, Iowa, David (Sue) Codling of Knoxville, Tennessee, Alan (Nancy) Codling of Omaha, Nebraska, stepsons, Larry (Mary Ellen) Smith of Cincinnati, Ohio and Stuart (Becky) Smith of Bettendorf; step-daughter, Marsha (Roger) Garrow of Davenport; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; brother, Carl (Darlene) Rahlf of Dubuque, Iowa, God-Daughter; Sharon (Douglas) Hartman, and daughter-in-law; Jolynn Codling of Davenport, Iowa.
In addition to her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by a sister, Ruth Litscher; son, Marvin R. Codling; a step-granddaughter a great-great-grandson and daughter-in-law; Deb Codling.
Memorials may be directed to the Quad Cities Diabetes Association or Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Bettendorf, Iowa.
Robert Williams
1928 - May 6, 2021
Robert Bob Williams died Thursday, May 6, 2021. Bob was married to Lillian Sakaluk for 62 years, Lillian preceding him in death December 9, 2013. He is survived by his daughter Linda Herrell and husband Ken (of Monrovia, California); son Kenneth, his wife Ellen (of Houston, Texas); son Doug and wife Lilli (of Dallas, Texas); 4 loving grandchildren Robert, Emy (and husband Cole Cook), Kendall, Graham; as well as a large extended family, most living in Ontario, Canada. Bob had a long career at Texas Instruments, and was heavily involved in the Texins Dive Club, Dallas Astronomy Club, Richardson square dancing, and water and snow skiing.