"To the McCarley family: Jenna McCarley was one of those rare people who could light up a room just by walking into it. She had a gift ? she never met a stranger, only friends she hadn?t talked to yet. You could be sitting next to her for five minutes, and by the end of it, you?d be laughing, swapping stories, and wondering how you ever got along without her. Jenna made me laugh in ways I?ll never forget ? the kind of laughter that comes from a shared understanding, a mischievous spark, and a heart wide open to joy. She saw the humor and the good in life, even when things weren?t easy. That was one of her great strengths: she led with love, compassion, and an unshakable belief in people. She was a ray of light for me and for so many others ? always encouraging, always curious, always ready to listen or lift your spirits. The world feels a little dimmer without her, but her warmth, wit, and kindness will live on in everyone lucky enough to have known her. Thank you, Jenna, for being my friend, a teacher, and a bright spot in so many lives. You truly made this world a better place just by being in it. With love, Christian Block"
In loving memory of
Jenna McCarley
September 19, 1934 - October 13, 2025
Jenna B. Cox McCarley was born on September 19, 1934, in Electra, TX, during the Great Depression. Shortly after her birth, the family moved to Sherman, TX, and then a year later, to Bryan County, OK, where her father bought a farm just across the Red River from Denison, TX.
Jenna attended a small country school in Kemp, OK. In her junior year, because of her interest in science, her parents paid out-of-state tuition so she could take high school science classes. She graduated from Denison High School, TX, in May, 1952.
Jenna met her future husband, Robert "Bob" McCarley, when she was walking with his sister from a high school football game, and he stopped to give them a ride. It was love at first sight and the beginning of a lifelong partnership, as they were happily married for 63 years.
After their wedding in November, 1952, they moved to Austin, TX, where Bob was pursuing his PhD degree at the University of Texas. Jenna worked as a laboratory technician in a doctors' office, and later, at a radiobiological research lab while Bob was in school. They had two children, Robert Carlton "Carl" and Amelia Kyanne, while he was completing his degree.
In 1956, they packed up and moved to Ames, IA, where Bob was offered a postdoc position at the Ames Laboratory and the Chemistry Department at Iowa State University. They had two more children, Maura Lynn and Tonia Marie.
After all kids were in school, Jenna started back to college and finished her bachelor's degree in Zoology in 1975. She worked as a laboratory technician at ISU, first in the Vet Med college, then in the Zoology and Food Sciences departments.
Jenna and Bob always loved to travel. There were many beloved and memorable camping trips to the Rocky Mountains, and they instilled in each of their children a love of nature that shines to this day.
In 1977, they took their two youngest children, Maura and Tonia, to live in Stuttgart, Germany. Bob worked at the Max Planck Institute on faculty improvement leave for six months, and then they traveled across Europe for another month.
Jenna was always dedicated to humanitarian concerns. She was instrumental in starting the Center for Creative Justice (CCJ) in Ames, and in her later years, she was heavily involved in the National Alliance for Mentally Ill (NAMI)-Central Iowa. In 1983, she traveled to the Soviet Union to promote peace among churches in the Soviet Union and the US.
Jenna was blessed with a loving family, including her 4 children, 5 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren. She lived her life dedicated to serving humanity.
She is preceded in death by her husband Bob and granddaughter Lyndsey (McCarley) Garcia of Ames. She is survived by her 4 children, Carl (Bridget) McCarley of Ames; Kyanne (Phil) Danowsky of Cotopaxi, CO; Maura (Pete) Torkildson of Concord, CA; and Tonia McCarley of Ames, 4 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren.
Visitation for Jenna McCarley will be held from 4:00 - 6:00 PM on Friday, October 17, 2025, at Grandon Funeral Home, 414 Lincoln Way, in Ames.
A Celebration of Life will take place on May 23, 2026, at First Baptist Church in Ames. Details will be posted on the Grandon web site (https://www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com/obituaries/).
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to CCJ and/or First Baptist Church of Ames.
To view Jenna's life tribute video, please follow this link: https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/GKQRX3YMHCKRDXT3
Tributes
"I met Jenna when she ended up living in Ames at her Community. That smile, the welcome presence she always had was always a bright spot to my day! Tonia and family, I am very sorry for the loss. What a beautiful woman!"
"I met Jenna in the early 2000s. She was one of the sweetest and caring people I have ever met. My condolences to her family. You were very blessed to have had her in your life. I will remember her."