Mary Ellen Chamberlin

Mary Ellen Chamberlin, 91, of Davenport, passed away on March 17, 2026 at Jersey Ridge Place with her loving daughters at her side. A Celebration of Life will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on April 18, 2026, at Rhythm City Casino. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Common Chords, the River Bend Food Bank, or the Quad City Arts Council. Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Mary Ellen was a woman who didn't just witness history—she shaped it. A sixth-generation Iowan with a sharp mind and a legendary talent for strategy, Mary Ellen was born in Wilton, Iowa on February 7, 1935, to Carroll Sinksen and Sybil Hartley. Mary Ellen was a powerhouse from the start. After graduating as Valedictorian of Wilton High in 1953, she moved to the Quad Cities and, in 1954, married Lynne A. Chamberlin at the United Methodist Church in Wilton Junction. Together, they built a life in Davenport anchored by their two daughters and a shared commitment to community.

In the mid-60s, Mary Ellen found her true calling in political and community activism. Her reputation as a "campaign guru" was cemented in the 1970s when she helped lead a relatively unknown Jimmy Carter to the White House. Her political prowess was recognized on the national stage at the 1980 National Democratic Convention in New York, where she served on the “Committee to Advise and Escort the Nominee.” Despite her high-level connections, Mary Ellen remained a grassroots strategist at heart, serving two terms on the Iowa Democratic Central Committee and helping many launch their own political careers.

Mary Ellen was a visionary who saw potential where others saw struggle. In the early 90s, she was part of the core group that brought riverboat gambling to Iowa to revitalize the economy. She served as President of the Riverboat Development Authority (RDA) for 20 years, overseeing the distribution of millions in grants to local agencies. She was equally passionate about the "heart" of the city, serving as an Advisor to the Shelter and Transitional Housing Cluster and MidCoast Fine Arts.

Her life was defined by an incredible list of honors that reflected her diverse interests. She was a twice-recognized leader in the Quad City Times “Leadership” features and received the 1996 Alcoa Leadership Award, the 1997 NSFRE Community Advocate Award, and was named the 1998 Outstanding Fair Booster by the Mississippi Valley Fair Board. Her heart for the vulnerable earned her the 1999 Housing Services Support Award and the 1999 Youth Advocacy Award from the Scott County Y.

In the 2000s, her impact was celebrated through the 2002 1st Annual Women of Excellence Award, the 2003-2004 Community Leader of the Year from DavenportOne, the 2004 Community Visionary Award, and the 2006 1st Annual Heart of Gold Award from the YWCA.

Mary Ellen was a trailblazer, an advocate for just public policy, and a supporter of the arts who achieved things others only dreamed of. Yet, her greatest pride remained her family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lynne; her parents; and her brothers, Jimmy and Butch. She is survived by her daughters, Amy Chamberlin and Julie Chamberlin (Mike Campbell); her grandchildren, Richard Bruch, Aaron (Tamerin) Bruch, and Samantha (Chris) Hebbel; and her great-grandchildren, Parker, Miles, and Reilly.