Mary Etta Fisher

Mary Etta Dobson was born on a farm southeast of Garwin on August 28, 1925, second daughter of Harold Dobson and Lura Strong Dobson. Both the Strong and Dobson families settled in the area near the Carlton Brethren church in the 1850’s. Mary Etta was named after her paternal great grandmother, Mary Etta Allen Dobson, wife of Sumner Dobson.

Mary Etta attended country school at Whipporwill and graduated high school in Garwin in 1942. Mary Etta received her teaching certificate at the Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls and then taught country school.

Mary Etta’s mother, Lura, died when Mary Etta was 18 in 1944 shortly after the family moved to a home south of the Carlton Brethren church.

Mary Etta married Gerald Fisher of Montour in 1946. Gerald passed away in March of 2005.

Mary Etta has been an active member of the Carlton Brethren Church since a young girl.

She still lives on the farm that she and Gerald moved to north of Montour in 1948.

Mary Etta has three sisters and a brother, all living; Carol Kouba of Garwin, Darlene Hanner of Marshalltown, JoAnn Katzer of Marshalltown, and Richard Dobson (Judy) of Iowa City. Mary Etta has three children; Ray (deceased), Brad (Terri), and Dean. Three Grandchildren, Brian Fisher (son of Ray and Mary Duff) living in Bondurant and engaged to Justine Sesker; Michael (son of Brad Fisher) and wife Nosika living in Richmond, Virginia; and Mary Anna Eicher (daughter of Brad) living in Marshalltown. Two step grandchildren, Amanda McAreavy of Tipton and Sean McAreavey of Greeley Colorado.