Mary Alice (Cooling) Bush, 94, formerly of Austin, died Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013, at Prairie Manor in Blooming Prairie.

She was born July 13, 1919, in Waterloo, Iowa, to Clifford and Helen (Dolan) Cooling. She graduated from East High School in Waterloo in 1938.  After high school she worked at Rath Meat Packing in Waterloo. On Oct. 16, 1942, she married Chester “Bud” Doyle Bush in Jefferson City, Mo. In Sept. of 1943, they lost their first born son, Doyle, after only a few weeks of life. After Chester’s tour of duty in World War II they moved to Myrtle, Minn., and shortly after moved to Austin, Minn. where they raised nine children. She worked at Land O’Lakes in Albert Lea, Minn. and then at the Downtown Motel in Austin.

She enjoyed family, sewing, quilting, plants, playing cards, the farm and bargains. She belonged to the Extension Club, Project Club, and the TOW Club.

Her fondest memories were of her family.

Survivors include her children, Alan (Maryann Koeppell) Bush, Austin, Gary Bush, Albert Lea, Minn., Barbara (Craig) Bellrichard, Burnsville, Minn., David Bush, Austin, Nancy (Michael) Bennett, Cottage Grove, Minn., Debbie Johnson, Rochester, Minn., John (Jodi Siegler) Bush, Chanhassen, Minn.; daughter-in-law, Janelle Bush, Alden, Minn.; 17 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Marcella Cooling, Waterloo.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Clifford and Helen Cooling; husband, Chester “Bud” Bush; brothers, Robert and John Cooling; sons, Doyle and Thomas Bush; daughter, April Lerum.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013 at Queen of Angels Catholic Church with Father Dale Tupper officiating.

There will be a 5 p.m. CCW rosary and a 7:30 p.m. wake service on Friday at Mayer Funeral Home where friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. and also one hour before the service at the church on Saturday. Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery in Nashua, Iowa.

Condolences may be left online at www.mayerfh.com.