Mary Louise Bryant

Mary Louise Bryant
Ankeny, Iowa

Mary Louise Bryant, 91, passed away on January 19, 2026, at home. She was born on May 11, 1934, in Rich Hill, MO to Walter and Mary (Daggett) Kistler.

Mary grew up in Osceola and attended Sunny Dale, a one-room schoolhouse and later attended school in Osceola. She married Donald on April 7, 1952. Mary worked as a cook for the Saydel School District for over 30 years, she was the kitchen manager at Woodside Middle School, where she later retired.

Mary enjoyed gardening, collecting knickknacks, and thrifting. On Christmas Eve, she received three yorkies, whom she named Holly, Joy, and Nicky in honor of the holiday. She also raised many kinds of birds over the years, including finches, cockatiels, and lovebirds, and took great joy in feeding the birds and squirrels that visited her yard.

Mary is survived by her daughters, Becky Hart and Deanna Carlson; grandchildren, Keenan (Kelly) Carlson, Megan (David) Craighton, Vicki (Matt) Zeimet, Brian (Stacey) Carlson and Heather (Mark) Scheuermann; great grandchildren, Jeremy (David) Hayes, Amber Peterson-DeGroot, Brenna Carlson, Lilly Carlson and Matthew Scheuermann; several great great grandchildren, along with a host of extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald; 9 siblings and son-in-law, Richard Carlson.

Family will greet guests on Thursday, January 29, 2026, from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave., Des Moines, Iowa. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m., at the funeral home. Mary will be laid to rest at Iowa Veterans Cemetery, 34024 Veterans Memorial Drive, Adel, Iowa.

Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.hamiltonsfuneralhome.com

Print