Memorial
Annie Faye Birky, 90, passed away Wednesday morning, July 13, 2022, at Heritage Specialty Care-Dementia Unit in Cedar Rapids.
A visitation will be held at the Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories on Saturday, July 23, 2022 from 1 PM until service time at 3 PM with the Certified Celebrant, Dr. James Coyle officiating. A livestream of the funeral service may be accessed on the funeral home website under the obituary for Annie Birky, under the video tab starting at 3PM, Saturday, July 23, 2022. Interment to follow at the Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery-Garden of the Cross.
Faye is survived by four of her children, Bev (Scott) Chariton of Hiawatha, Jan Anthony of Marion, Jim (Sally) Birky of Milliken, CO, and Tom (Kathy) Hensley-Birky of Cedar Rapids; 13 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her nephew who was like a brother, Kenneth (Drexie) Key, of Kingsport, TN, sister-in-law Betty Jean Rinderknecht of Coon Rapids, MN, Alabama cousins Betty Lou Hood, Ray Wadsworth, and Gaynell White, and many nieces and nephews around the nation.
Faye was predeceased by her parents; husband Bill; son Gregory and his wife Kathy of Newton, IA; and great grandson, Austin Hunter of OK. She was also preceded in death by her sisters, Avis Key, Kingsport, TN, and Violet Davison, Sierra Vista, AZ, and her brothers, Bruce (Josie) and Gene (Maxine) McLarty of Arley, AL, Wayne (Sondra) McLarty, Atkins, IA, and brothers-in-law William Key of Alabama and Donald A. Rinderknecht in Minnesota, formerly of Atkins, IA.
Faye was born to Thomas and Fleta (Lindley) McLarty on December 18, 1931, the youngest of six children on their cotton farm in Arley, Alabama, where she excelled in her studies and was a high school cheerleader. Faye moved to Iowa where her sister Violet lived in 1949 and began working as a clerk-bookkeeper at the Holden & Kahler Bookstore in Cedar Rapids. She married William Birky, Jr., on June 4, 1950, at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Atkins, Iowa. She raised five children before working at Killian’s Department Store as a clerk and then bookkeeper. She also loved being a Sunday school teacher and hosting family gatherings. Later on, she devoted numerous enjoyable years as the director of the local nonprofit Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) until retiring to care for Bill until his passing. Faye enjoyed quilting by hand, which she learned from her mama. She also enjoyed traveling and going out for a piece of pie and coffee.
The family would like to thank the entire staff of Heritage Specialty Care for their loving care of Annie Faye during her stay for 7-1/2 years in the Dementia Unit, especially Paula, Vicki, Kim, Barnette and Teresa.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to: Heritage Specialty Care-Dementia Unit, 200 Clive Dr. S.W., Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 or the Alzheimer’s Association, 317 7th Avenue SE, Suite 402, Cedar Rapids IA 52401.