Mary Ellen Hines Sherwood, 75 of Ames, passed away from complications of dementia Thursday, July 6, 2023, at Bethany Life in Story City.

Mary was born March 22, 1948, in Ames, Iowa the daughter of Gerald "Jerry" Wayne and Frances Evelyn (Alyward) Hines. She graduated from Nevada High School in 1966, attended Ottumwa Heights Community College. She married Steven Hobbs on October 26, 1968 (D-1975) and later was united in marriage to Jan Paul Sherwood on June 3, 1977, in Arkansas. Mary was an entrepreneur and interior decorator. She owned Wildwood Design in Nevada and Ames for over a decade. This is where Mary shared her passion for color, textiles and furnishings with others. For many years, she lived in the coastal communities of Savannah, GA and Galveston, TX before returning to Ames to be closer to her family. She enjoyed volunteering at church, collecting antiques, refinishing old furniture, living near the ocean and listening to Irish music. She found perfect recipes and prepared delicious meals and treats for her family. Mary loved playing with her grandchildren – never telling them no. One of her funnest adventures was taking weekend trips with her sister to visit her niece in Kansas City and going to garage and estate sales filling their car to the brim full of treasures for their antique business. Jan and Mary also liked road trips across the country on two lane highways looking for diamonds in the rough.

Mary is survived by her husband, Jan of Ames; her children, Amy (Tom) Mahoney of Houston, TX, Jeffrey (Sherry) Hobbs of Rochester, NY, Jonathan Sherwood of Los Angeles, CA and Sarah Lancaster of Nevada; her sister, Annette Forbes of Ames; her five grandchildren, Steven Mahoney, Molly (Vanessa) Mahoney, and Jalen, Kaley, Linken Lancaster and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Steven Hobbs; her grandchildren, Abigail and Leo Mahoney; her brothers, Kent, Neal and Mark Hines; and her nephews, Eric and Mason Hines.

A visitation will be at 10 a.m. Monday, July 10, 2023, at Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home (1418 Fawcett Pkwy) in Nevada. A prayer service will be at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at the Nevada Municipal Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Nevada Community Schools Angel Tree or Cubbies Cupboard, checks are made out to Nevada Community School, in the memo line please designate which program you prefer.

Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home in Nevada is handling arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.rasmussonfh.com