Marlys Ankrum

Marlys Ankrum, 92, of Marshalltown, Iowa passed away on the morning of July 9, 2023 at the Iowa River Hospice Home with her family at her side.

Services for Marlys will be held on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 beginning at 11:00 a.m. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 9:00-11:00 a.m. In Lieu of flowers, memorials in Marlys’ name may be directed to the Iowa River Hospice Home. For additional information or to send a condolence to the family please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Marlys Murphy was born on July 24, 1930 in rural Marshall County. She was the youngest of three children and the only daughter born to Harry Guy and Ruby (Lindamood) Murphy. Marlys attended country school in rural Marshalltown and graduated with the Marshalltown High School class of 1947.

On May 22, 1955, she was united in marriage to the love of her life, Marvin Ross Ankrum at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Marvin and Marlys began a life together living in Marshalltown. Together they raised two children, Matthew and Martin. She worked as a legal secretary and an abstracter. She did this until her retirement in 2010. She was over a 70-year attendee of the First Presbyterian Church in Marshalltown, a member of the D.A.R. (Daughters of the American Revolution) Spinning Wheel Chapter, the P.E.O. Chapter JU of Marshalltown, the Central Iowa Genealogical Society and Entre Nous. In her free time, she did genealogy research. She also enjoyed reading, drinking coffee, and working to get younger generations into DAR.

She is survived by her children: Matthew (Katherine) Ankrum of Marshalltown, and Martin (Julie) Ankrum of Greensburg, PA; her grandchildren Michelle Ankrum and Hadley Ankrum; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She is preceded in death by her husband Marvin; her parents Harry Guy and Ruby Murphy; and her brothers Charles and Keith Murphy.