Maryetta May Harrington, 89, of 104 E. Ridge St., Ironwood, Mich., died Thursday, April 23, 2009, at Manor Care of Dunedin Nursing Home in Dunedin, Fla. The former Maryetta Baker was born May 9, 1919, in Pomeroy, Iowa, daughter of the late Oliver and Sara Baker. She attended Pomeroy schools, graduating from Pomeroy High School in 1936. She said her mother, wise as always, decided she needed to be shoved out of the nest and accordingly, sent Maryetta off to nursing school at the University of Iowa. She attained her registered nursing degree and met Rex Harrington at the university. They were married March 20, 1940. Working at the Iowa University Hospital, she helped put Rex through medical school. Their only child, Gary, was born in 1941. Maryetta and family moved to Tacoma, Wash., where Maryetta and Gary remained until December 1946, when they boarded a train for Brooklyn, New York, and then sailed on a Liberty ship to Germany to join Rex who was in the Army medical corps. Upon returning to the United States in early 1948, they lived in Decatur, Ill. for a year and then moved to Ironwood in 1949. Maryetta was active in various civic activities, including the Ironwood Junior Women's Club, scouting, the Grand View Auxiliary, and her church. She was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church and then Our Lady of Peace, where she counted it a blessing to be able to visit nursing homes as a Eucharistic Minister. She also enjoyed arranging flowers throughout the church. Maryetta took pride in caring for her family and friends. She was a great cook and seamstress and enjoyed her flower gardens. She often filled in as a nurse at Rex's clinic. She especially enjoyed decorating the house for Christmas and hosting her annual Christmas party for friends. A game of bridge with friends always brightened her day. Surviving are her son, Gary (Linda), Ironwood; three grandchildren, Scott (Shannon) Harrington, Marquette, Mich., Garyn (Corey) Boyd, Palm Harbor, Fla., and Amy (Jose) Moreno, Ft. Stewart, Ga.; seven great-grandchildren, Emily, Kaity and Grace Harrington, Emma, Eli and Lucas Moreno, and Casey Boyd; a sister, Janet Rystedt, of Federal Way, Wash.; sister-in-law, Margaret Baker, sister-and brother-in-law, Alyce and Les Holland, brother-and-sister-in-law, Tom and Mary Harrington; numerous nieces and nephews; and her special friend and companion, Jerry Connelly, of Dunedin. Besides her parents, Maryetta was preceded in death by her husband in August 1981, and brothers, Gene and Jack. Out of respect for Maryetta's wishes, cremation has taken place. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, May 5, at 11 a.m., at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood, with the Rev. Darryl J. Pepin, celebrant. Rite of Committal will take place in the St. Joseph Family Room at the church, with a luncheon reception to follow in the parish hall. Inurnment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood. Friends may call in the St. Joseph Family Room at the church from 10 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Ironwood or the Ironwood Area Historical Society. To view Maryetta's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.