Mary Louise Wilder

Mary Louise Wilder, 79, of West Des Moines, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, February 16, 2025, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Her memorial service will be on March 1st at 3:00 P.M. at Henderson Funeral Home. Reverend Chaunci Hall officiating. 

Mary Louise was born on July 16, 1945, in Durant, MS to Garnett Young. She was raised in Durant, Mississippi by the late Lessie B. and Mildred Amick. She attended Durant Attendance Center High School where she loved playing basketball and performing in the band as a majorette. Mary Louise graduated from Durant Attendance Center High School, class of 1963. After she graduated High School she attended Jackson State University for a year. Mary Louise then moved to New York and worked briefly as a model. In the mid 1960’s, she moved to Chicago and began a new life in the Windy City where she lived for over 40 years. In Chicago, she led a full and vibrant life. For a while, she performed as a singer with an R & B group with her cousins. She was always known for her cool and youthful spirit and believed in enjoying life.

In Chicago, she also helped run an afterhours spot on Chicago’s notorious Southside. In the later years, she began a career as a home healthcare aide. Her clients loved her and she often went above the call of duty, to care for them.

Late in life Mary Louise returned to Durant, MS to assist with the care of her aging Mother Garnett McGee who was in her 90s at the time. She was a fantastic and loving caregiver to her mom, diligently waiting on her hand-and-foot, cooking and doing whatever needed to be sure her Mom was comfortable. Mary Louise was with her mother right up until then end when Mrs. McGee passed away at home in 2021, at the age of 103 years.

After her mother’s passing, Mary Louise and her daughter, Asia, agreed it would be best for her to move to Des Moines to be closer to her daughter and extended family. She enjoyed Des Moines for the short time she was here, especially living with her daughter and having more choices for activities than Durant, MS had to offer.

Mary Louise loved to spend time with her family, especially her grandkids and her dog Kobie. Kobie gave her a special comfort and joy and she spoiled him rotten! She also enjoyed cooking, going to family events, wearing and collecting her shades (sunglasses), entertaining and feeding others. She loved collecting hats and no one could wear a hat like her…cocked slightly to the side, of course! Music was important to her and she loved listening and singing to her favorite music artists like Maxwell, Frankie Beverly, October London, Patty Labelle,The Chi Lites,The Dramatics and whole lists of many great R & B artists. She faced life’s challenges and trials with resilience and hope.

Mary Louise was a vibrant spirit well known for her pizazz and her famous hamburgers. If you never had one of her burgers, you sho-nuff missed a treat! She was always the life of the party with a jazzy sense of style. Mary Louise had a youthful spirt and loved her blonde hair and was often nicknamed Mary J. Blige by family members. Her great nephews, Julian and Jordan, and cousin Charmaine often asked her to cook them a burger, as did many others. She will be missed greatly by her loving family and faithful friends.

Those left to cherish her loving memory are: her son, Pierre (Marity) Amick and daughter, Asia Wilder; four grandchildren Passionae, Michelle, TaShaun, and Moises Amick. She loved all of her nieces and nephews and loved staying in touch with them by phone. Mary Louise was especially close with her niece, Lori Young and her buddy and cousin, Charmaine Toney-Adkins, with whom she made many fun memories in Chicago.

Mary Louise was preceded in death by her Mother, Garnett McGee and her Stepfather, Weems McGee; oldest brother Milton C Young, Sr. (and her sister-in-law, Helen Young); older brother, Alvin Moore, along with her best friend Mary Glover.

Memorial contributions may be directed to her daughter, Asia Wilder (CashApp: $wlakia75).