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BESSIE VIOLA TAYLOR (JONES) PERRY
Bessie Viola Taylor (Jones) Perry, daughter of James Riley and Nellie May (Figgins) Taylor, was born May 30, 1904, near Afton, Iowa, Union county and passed away on December 21, 2001 at Clearview Homes in Mount Ayr, Iowa at the age of 97 years and six months.
Bessie was raised with nine brothers and sisters near Diagonal, Iowa. Family was always a high priority to Bessie and she maintained a close relationship with her brothers and sisters into adulthood. She graduated from Diagonal high school in the class of 1922.
On March 6, 1924, she was united in marriage to Owen Zell Jones. To this union were born three children: a daughter, Alice Mae, and two sons, James Albert and Robert Dean. Zell and Bessie were engaged in farming in the Diagonal and Ellston communities until retirement in 1959. Zell passed away December 1, 1959. In 1964, she was married to Ralph Perry. He died in October 1974.
Bessie's faith was the center of her life. She was raised in the Presbyterian Church in Diagonal and became a member of the Ellston United Methodist Church when she and Zell moved to the Blackmore Corner. She looked forward to spending time serving with the people in the Ellston church and commuted to Sunday service even after she retired to Mount Ayr. She later transferred her membership to the First Christian Church in Mount Ayr.
Bessie was a member of the Mount Ayr Chamber of Commerce, Mount Ayr Housing Board and American Legion Auxiliary where she served as county president. She loved doing things for others and got up many a morning to bake bread for neighbors at Mount Ayr Manor #3.
Bessie was known for her quick wit and love of writing poetry. Many people asked her to commemorate special occasions with one of her poems. All the poems she had written over the years were bound in a book and given to her family at her 90th birthday celebration.
She was preceded in death by her parents, J. R. and Nellie; husbands, Zell and Ralph; brothers, Forest, Floyd, Harold and Clifford Taylor; sisters, Rena Belle Taylor and Frances Taylor Parker; beloved son Jim; and great-granddaughter Keely Brianne Rinehart.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughter Alice Mae Johnston and husband Bill of Bedford, Iowa; son Bob and wife Margo of Des Moines, Iowa; daughter-in-law Edna Jones of Mount Ayr; brother Wayne L. Taylor of Diagonal; sisters, Velma L. Avery of Des Moines, Verla Dean Taylor and husband Clyde of Gallatin, Missouri; sister-in-law Lorabel Taylor of Diagonal; nine grandchildren, Steve Jones and wife Jean of Johnston, Iowa, Barry Jones and wife Katy of Des Moines, Kathy Rinehart and husband Lynn of Mount Ayr, Rob Jones and wife Phyllis of De Soto, Iowa, Scott Jones of Des Moines, Todd Jones and wife Staci of Greenfield, Iowa, Tim Jones and wife Kelli of Greenfield, Tiffany Kemp and Nicole Fucolaro and husband Sam, all of Des Moines; 19 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; nieces, nephews and a host of friends.
Funeral services were held Sunday, December 23, 2001 at the First Christian Church in Mount Ayr with Reverend John Brillo officiating. A eulogy was given by Mrs. Kathy Rinehart. Musicians were Ginny Eighmy, John Allen and Edna Jones, Kathy Rinehart and Korbie Rinehart. Casket bearers were Steve Jones, Barry Jones, Rob Jones, Scott Jones, Todd Jones and Tim Jones. Honorary pallbearers were Justin Jones and Tanner Rinehart.
Bessie was laid to rest in the Diagonal Cemetery , Diagonal.
Wilson-Watson & Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr was in charge of the arrangements.
RICHARD LEE BAKER
Richard Lee Baker, age 61, of Norwalk, Iowa, son of Lyman and Helen Bacon Baker, was born January 9, 1940, in Tingley, Iowa, and died of a stroke December 26, 2001, at his home in Norwalk.
When a young child he moved with his family to Kellerton, Iowa, where he spent all of his youth, and moved to Des Moines, Iowa in the 1960s where he worked as a bricklayer all of his life. He enjoyed his family, gardening and cooking.
He married Carol Blase in Des Moines in 1966. The couple became the parents of two children, Deanna Baker and Bradley Baker.
Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife; brothers, Gerald, Darrell, Robert; and a sister Evelyn Baker Bradley.
"Dick" is survived by his daughter Deanna Baker and Deanna's two children, Holly and Luke Hansen, all of Bay Shore, New York; his son Bradley of Norwalk and Bradley's daughter Alexandria of Bay Shore, New York; two sisters, Rosemary Baker Blauer and her husband Darold of Des Moines and Cheryl Mae Baker Smith of Des Moines; three brothers, Ralph "R.D." Baker of Blue Springs, Missouri and his wife Rayma, Terry Baker of Winston, Colorado and his wife Kathy and Kenneth Baker of Osceola, Iowa and his wife Patricia.
Funeral services were held December 29, 2001, at the Southtown Funeral Home in Des Moines with Reverend Larry Riegel officiating. Casket bearers were Gary Thompson, Mike Nehring, John Blase and Raymond Blase.
Interment was in Glendale Cemetery , Des Moines.
CLIFFORD DORMAN DOOLITTLE
Clifford Dorman Doolittle, son of Harry Oscar and Gracie Leticia (Driskel) Doolittle, was born in a log cabin near Davis City, Iowa on March 8, 1921. He passed away, with family at his side, on December 31, 2001, at the Clearview Home in Mount Ayr, Iowa after a long battle with Huntington's disease.
On June 15, 1937, Clifford married Ethel Arrena Still. To this union three sons were born: Clifford LeRoy (Roy), Larry Leu and Melvin Eugene. In 1958, Steven LeRoy Doolittle, age 12, was warmly welcomed as the fourth son. Cliff and Ethel enjoyed a wonderful 64 years of marriage.
Many of his early years were spent working for farmers in northern Iowa and around Des Moines. In 1953, they bought and operated a farm four and one-half miles northeast of Kellerton, Iowa. In 1995, Cliff retired and moved into Kellerton.
Cliff devoted his life's work to farming with his Allis-Chalmer tractor and attending auctions at various sale barns around the area. You could usually find him and Ethel at the sale barn in Mount Ayr on Tuesdays, at Lamoni on Thursdays and at Creston on Fridays. You would have to call these his favorite hangouts.
While the boys were younger they helped on the family farm. Some of their fondest teenage memories are trying to get home before he woke up in the mornings, but it seemed the later they got home the earlier he woke up to start the chores.
Cliff loved to pitch horseshoes and was ready to play a game of Pitch. In his earlier years he loved to dance and they would attend many of the local dances on Saturday nights. A piece of pie was always a welcome sight for dessert.
He enjoyed many years living down the road from George and Louise Rogers and Jason and Inez Garwood. Later when the Rogers and the Garwoods moved away he enjoyed traveling to their new homes and spending days visiting them.
Another big highlight of his life were his nine grandchildren: Connie, Brenda, Valerie, Debra, Penni, Teena, Jeff, Michele and Mark; 18 great-grandchildren: LaDawna, Michael, Chad, Travis, Tiffany, Terry, Troy, Ben, Aric, Amber, Katy, Koty, Jeffrey, Cody, Chase, Stephanie, Dustin, Emilianne and Kraig; and four great-great-grandchildren: Aleigha, Tristan, Darrian and Wyatt. He was a loving grandpa and enjoyed each and every one of them.
We will always remembers Grandpa wearing his striped bib-overalls and when he dressed up to go to dances. He would be so excited that he would dance every dance and wear Grandma out. Then would come the granddaughters' turn to take over for her so she could rest for the next set. His favorite songs were sung by Charlie Pride.
Cliff was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Clinton and Clyde Doolittle; two sisters, Marie Ringenburg and Pearl Burrell; and a son, Clifford LeRoy (Roy) Doolittle.
He will be sadly missed by his wife Ethel; sons, Larry and wife Beth of Redding, Iowa, Melvin and wife Judy and Steve and wife Janice, all of Kellerton; nine grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Vesta Doolittle of Des Moines; in-laws, George, Eldon and Ed Still of Mount Ayr, Lee Still of Muscatine, Iowa, Leucena Kobbe and Joyce Johnson of Mount Ayr; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Saturday, January 5, 2002, at Wilson-Watson & Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr with Pastor Rick Hawkins officiating. Casket bearers were Michael Hartsook, Chad Holmes, Travis Holmes, Mike Stark, Terry Johnson, Troy Johnson, Ben Hewlett, Aric Hewlett and Jeffrey Doolittle.
Honorary pallbearers were LaDawna Doolittle, Tiffany Johnson, Amber Hash, Katy Grindstaff, Koty Hale, Cody Doolittle, Chase Doolittle, Stephanie Pritchett, Dustin Pritchett, Emilianne Doolittle and Kraig Doolittle.
Cliff was laid to rest in the Rose Hill Cemetery , Lamoni, Iowa.
MARGARET LUCILLE DRAEGER
Margaret L. Draeger was born September 20, 1913 to Ray Harvey Varnum and his wife Gretchen May (Fox) Varnum in Timber Creek township of Marshall county, Iowa. She was the first child of seven children.
She grew up on a farm in Marshall county. In August of 1947 she married Robert Bagley of Nevada, Iowa and divorced in 1955. On March 16, 1955 she married Harold Lester; they divorced in 1959. On September 21, 1960 she was married to Charles Lukehart in Minneapolis,
Minnesota. Charles died in March of 1966. Then on February 7, 1980 she married Melvin L. Draeger, who preceded her in death in November of 1999. She entered into rest on December 29, 2001 at Mount Ayr, Iowa.
Margaret was a woman who loved music and played the organ in her home. She was an avid reader and was a very capable seamstress and needlework person. She loved her nieces and nephews and took several of them in when they needed someone to be there for them when they were small. She loved to work along side her husband Melvin, as they created from scratch the timber home while they lived in Ringgold county and enjoyed the birds, wild animals, her cats and living in the country.
Over the years she did some traveling with her husband and left many photos of places she had been during her lifetime. In the later part of her life, she became ill and hated the thought that she could no longer take care of herself or understand what was happening to and around her.
She leaves to mourn her passing one brother, Robert Varnum of Marshall-town, Iowa; her brother-in-law, Roger Burnett of Marshalltown; three Draeger stepchildren; numerous nieces and nephews from different parts of the United States. She regretted that she was unable to keep track of them through her lifetime.
Those who have gone before her are her parents; three brothers, Lyle, Russell and Raymond; and two sisters, Lillian and Hazel.
Graveside services were held Wednesday, January 2, 2002 at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens in Marshall-town with Pastor Gerald Swanberg officiating.
Wilson-Watson & Armstrong Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
CLEO BEATRICE HAGANS
Cleo Beatrice (Clayton) was born near Mount Ayr, Iowa on February 10, 1904 to John W. and Lura Patterson Clayton. She was married to George K. Hagans of Mount Ayr. They, with her parents, moved to California in 1925.
Cleo and George had a son, Halden, and a daughter, Janice. She passed away December 14, 2001 in Stockton, California.
Cleo was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, G.K.; their son, Halden; two sisters, Adra Gratopp and Vergie Thomas; and grandchildren.
Survivors include her daughter, Janice Hayes; a sister, 101 year-old Mildred Reynolds of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; two nieces, Barbara Wheeler and Helen Brant of Stockton, California; and nephews, Neil Thomas of Oakland, California and Russell Thomas of Lamoni, Iowa.
WILMA MAE BRADLEY HIGHTSHOE
Wilma Mae Bradley Hightshoe, age 91, of Mount Ayr Health Care Center, formerly of Kellerton, Iowa, died on January 4, 2002, at the Mount Ayr Health Care Center.
Survivors include two sons, James B. and wife Marlene Hightshoe of Littleton, Colorado and Jerry D. and wife Ila Hightshoe of Swisher, Iowa; eight grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Wilma was preceded in death by her husband, James E. "Bud" Hightshoe; a daughter, Carla Jean Martin; parents, Nelse and Dora (Gray) Bradley; a brother, Jack Bradley; and a sister, Edna Garland.
Wilma was born on September 26, 1910, in Lamoni, Iowa, and graduated from Lamoni high school. She married on February 22, 1930, and lived her entire life in Decatur and Ringgold counties. Wilma was baptized into the Kellerton Methodist Church in 1952 and remained active there for many years.
She was also active in Eastern Star and Rebekkah Lodge in Kellerton. Wilma was a devoted wife and mother and took pride in watching her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow and mature. She loved music and poetry and will be missed by her friends and family.
Funeral services were held Monday, January 7, 2002, at Wilson-Watson & Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr with Mike Martin officiating. Musicians were Justin Akers and Judy Cunning. Casket bearers were Jeff Hightshoe, Gregory Hightshoe, Mark Martin, Don Martin, Ron Martin and Mike Martin. Honorary pallbearers were Jacob and Paula Denum and Dale and Joyce Hardin.
Wilma was laid to rest in the Rose Hill Cemetery , Lamoni.
DONALD LYNDON PINE
A memorial service for Mr. Donald Lyndon Pine will be held Saturday, January 12, 2002 at 2:00 p.m. at Mount Zion United Methodist Church, Marietta, Georgia, with Reverend Tom Pilgrim officiating. Interment will be private. A reception will be held following the memorial service at the church.
Mr. Pine, age 57, of Aiken, South Carolina, husband of Mrs. Linda Elaine Corll Pine, died Friday morning, January 4, 2002 at his home.
Born in Mount Ayr, Iowa, a son of the late Glenn Pine and the late Lola Bellamy Pine, he served in The National Guard as a MP, and attended Northwestern Missouri State. Having worked for a variety of companies in the area of sales, he was currently director of national accounts for Jennie-O Turkey Store.
He was an avid golfer, was a member of The Peachtree Miata Club and was a member of Mount Zion United Methodist Church, Marietta, Georgia.
Donald is survived by his wife Linda; daughter and son-in-law, Heather and Myles Reedy; sisters, Helen Clymer and Mary Rice; brother Jack; two nieces and five nephews. Survivors also include his mother-in-law Louise Corll and sisters-in-law, Mary Ellen Corll and Dianna Anderson.
Memorials in memory of Mr. Pine may be made to The American Heart Association, 1003 Hammond Road, Aiken, SC 29803.
JEAN YVONNE RUSCO
Jean Yvonne Rusco was born December 23, 1918 at Blockton, Iowa to E. G. Menelaus and Edna Hoxworth Menelaus.
Yvonne grew up and graduated from Blockton high school. She married Michael Cavanaugh and one son, Gary, was born. Michael was a career military officer and they lived in several cities around the world. She returned to Blockton in 1951. Yvonne later married Forrest Rusco.
Yvonne worked as a secretary at Blockton Oil Company for several years and was the president of the company from 1982 to 1995. She was a member of the Methodist Church in Blockton, the Laugh-a-Lot Club and the Blockton Community Betterment Corp. She was an avid antique collector.
Yvonne became a resident of Clearview Home in Mount Ayr in November of 1998. She passed away at the Ringgold County Hospital in Mount Ayr on December 31, 2001.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Forrest.
Survivors include her son, Gary Cavanaugh, M.D. and his wife Sylvia of Stockton, California; two grandchildren, Tara Cavanaugh of San Francisco, California and Corey Cavanaugh of Stockton; one sister, Kathleen Ratekin of Topeka, Kansas; and two nephews, Mark and Kevin Ratekin.
Funeral services were held at the Blockton Christian Church on January 4, 2002 with Rev. Scott Marcum officiating. Musicians were Jodi Lawrence and Marvel Melvin.
Casket bearers were Leonard Smith, Tom Miller, Eldon Stroburg, Delbert Molt, Bob Wilt and Richard Brown. Honorary pallbearers were Paul Campbell, Whitey Stewart and Everett King.
Yvonne was laid to rest in the Rose Hill Cemetery
at Blockton. Wilson-Watson & Armstrong Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
AVERY GUY SHELDEN
Avery Guy was born June 25, 1953, to Avery Guy Shelden and Clara Ruth (Greimann) Shelden. He passed away suddenly on January 3, 2002, at his home in Azusa, California.
Graveside services were held at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California on Thursday, January 10, 2002 at 3:00 p.m. His burial site is near where his dad is buried.
Avery Guy was an employee of the Post Office for 27 years.
He left to mourn his passing his wife, Marlene; two sons, Avery Guy and Jeromie Michael; and two grandchildren, Violet and Matthew. Also, his mother, Ruth Shelden; three sisters, Diana Blodgett, Donna Shelden and Linda Huerta; and a brother, Milan Shelden.
Preceding him in death were his father, Avery Guy; grandparents, Guy and Alma Shelden and Wilbur (Doc) and Donna Greimann; and an aunt, Alice Keplinger.
He left a host of relatives, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and good friends.
You will be missed and we love you.
