White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

Independence – Marcia Jean (Smith) Stoneman passed peacefully on July 5, 2019, at Lexington Estate in Independence, Iowa. Except for a 10-year period when the family lived in Fayette, she was a lifelong resident of Independence. Marcia, the oldest of three girls, was born on July 8, 1922 to Rolland Ross and Donna Margaret (Ferrin) Smith of Winthrop. After graduating from Winthrop High School in 1940, she attended Independence Junior College, a two-year school. Following her marriage to Maurice “Stoney” Paul Stoneman on November 15, 1942, in Independence, Iowa, she taught Kindergarten through Fourth Grade in the two-room country school in Otterville for two years. She and Maurice were married for 58 years and had four children, five grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren.

Marcia was a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church of Independence where she was active in Circle and more recently with PW Quilters preparing prayer quilts for sick and shut-in members of the church. During her life, she enjoyed quilting, sewing, crocheting, and reading religious materials. She crocheted afghan blankets for each of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Summer would find her working in her yard where she especially liked pulling weeds. Later on, she developed an interest in genealogy.

Marcia was never one to just sit around. She was a worker who didn’t like to waste time. To that end, she helped her husband in operating Stoneman’s Studio photography business where she hand colored photographs before the invention of color film. When the family moved to Fayette to own and publish the Fayette Leader weekly newspaper, she proof read copy before printing. Then, when they moved back to Independence, she performed various office duties for Stoneman Printing.

Along with her husband, she was active in the local and state Republican Party, hosting a number of caucus meetings and attending various conventions. Perhaps her most fulfilling activities were in lending a hand when someone needed help, although a stroke suffered in February, 2010, dramatically slowed her down. However, she never lost her positive attitude and sense of humor – or her love of all things chocolate.

Marcia will be greatly missed by friends and family alike. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a son, Denis, and a daughter, Janice Gonzalez. In addition to her sons, Rollie (Diane) Stoneman of Colorado Springs, CO, and Rick Stonemn of Kiester, MN, she is survived by her sisters, Margaret “Margi” Baley of Jackson, MS, and Phyllis (Lee) Jensen of Mitchellville, MD, and her son-in-law, Augustine Gonzalez of Cedar Rapids, IA. Also surviving are grandchildren, Angie Chatman and Chris Stoneman of Colorado Springs, Jeff Gonzalez of Cedar Rapids, Cody Stoneman of Des Moines, and Ryan Stoneman of Kiester, MN. Great grandchildren are Olivia and Colin Chatman and Ella, Reese, Trevor, and Kate Stoneman, all of Colorado Springs and Alexis, Jobe, and Matthias Gonzalez, all of Cedar Rapids.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 12, 2019, at the First Presbyterian Church in Independence with Rev. John Hougen officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. Friends may call for visitation for an hour before services on Friday at the church.  A Memorial Fund has been established.  White Funeral Home of Independence is in charge of arrangements.