Marty J. McPhee

Marty J. McPhee, 70, of Des Moines died March 21, 2019 and will be missed by all.

Born and raised in Des Moines, the daughter of James and Winifred (Gilbert) Kelley, she attended Des Moines Technical High School and was a lifelong resident of Des Moines.

Marty had a long and wonderful career working for West Des Moines Water Works till retirement. There she worked supporting a group of men and women she called family. Keeping the WDMW cast of characters at the plant in line was her joy every day. She always lit up when talking about her days there and was a friend and confidant to all.

From a young age Marty was involved with horses. She bought her first horse at age 13. Exhilaration, bumps and bruises abounded over the years as she spent early years training and riding them. She introduced her children to horses early in life. Daughter Shauna loved them! Son Doug was a bit more skittish and eventually decided riding dirt bikes was safer than riding something with a brain of its own! Marty and Shauna attended the American Royal horse show in Kansas City regularly. Meeting up and staying with Marty’s Cousin Connie for the Royal was something she looked forward to every year. After Shauna passed Marty and her best friend Mary continued the tradition for many years.

Marty loved socializing and being with people. Birthdays, anniversaries, Super Bowl parties, she was always up to be with friends and family. Her Easter Egg Hunts were legendary! The kiddos couldn’t wait to charge the yard and find all the eggs filled with goodies. She loved the Iowa State Fair. She made it a point every year to attend on multiple days. Seeing the daily progress on the sand sculpture was a close second to the horse barns. Marty looked forward to meeting up with several friends each year at the fair to celebrate all that’s Iowa. Concerts and plays were always special to Marty. She and Mary had Civic Center season passes for many years and attended events from all different genres.

She was proceeded by her father, James; mother, Winifred; daughter, Shauna; and sister-in-law, Barbara Kelley.

She leaves behind a son, Doug (Connie) McPhee; brothers, Tim Kelley and Jim (Jeanne) Kelley; grandsons, Weston (Leslie) McPhee and Conner McPhee; 2 Nieces and 3 Nephews; best friend, Mary Jones; two grand puppies; a hyper ball of puppy fluff named Gracie; dozens and dozens of friends and loving family. She touched us all with her kindness and love.

Memorial contributions should be made to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, an organization she felt very passionately about and supported.

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