Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
CLAY WEBSTER SEATON
Clay Webster Seaton, son of Samuel H. and Addie (Bennett) Seaton, was born November 22, 1911, on a farm three miles north of Redding, Ringgold county, Iowa, and died Thursday, June 24, 1999, in Austin, Texas, at the age of 87 years, seven months and two days.
He attended the Redding and Delphos Consolidated schools, and graduated from the Redding high school with the class of 1929. He then attended college at Iowa State Teachers College at Cedar Falls, Iowa, now known as the University of Northern Iowa, where he received his B. A. degree with a major in mathematics in May, 1933.
For five years Clay was employed by the depression-era Works Projects Administration in Ringgold county as foreman-timekeeper on a road crew and then as county timekeeper.
On November 29, 1941, Clay was united in marriage with Myrna M. Morss, daughter of Robert F. "Bert" and Gussie (Ryan) Morss. To this union was born one daughter, Camille. The marriage was a happy one and Clay and Myrna were privileged to celebrate their 57th wedding anniversary on November 29, 1998.
Clay served in the U. S. Army for a period of 37 months during World War II. After his discharge from the Army in 1946, he and Myrna made their home in Des Moines, Iowa, where they lived until after his retirement. For six years after moving to Des Moines, Clay was employed by the Veterans Administration; he then entered employment with the Iowa Employment Security Administration (later known as the Iowa Department of Job Service) where he was employed for over 25 years as a statistician and labor market economist, including eight years as unit supervisor in its research department. Clay retired in 1978 and in 1982 he and Myrna moved to Austin, Texas to be near their daughter with whom they made their home in the later years of their life.
Clay was a member of the Northwest Hills United Methodist Church in Austin and of the Austin Genealogical Society.
He is survived by his wife Myrna; daughter Camille Seaton; and one cousin Mari Humbert of Delphos, Iowa.
Memorial services were held at Northwest Hills United Methodist Church on Tuesday, June 29, 1999, conducted by the Reverend Kathryn Longley.
Interment of the ashes will be at a later date at the family plot in Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Iowa.
VERNER VAN VALKENBURG
Verner Van Valkenburg, age 63, of Creston, Iowa, formerly of the Redding, Iowa area, died Wednesday, December 15, 1999 in Creston.
Verner Merle Van Valkenburg was born February 22, 1936 in Fort Dodge, Iowa, the son of Walter Earl Van Valkenburg and Ferne Jessica Bower Van Valkenburg. He grew up attending school in Fort Dodge, graduating in 1953. Vern served in the United States Air Force from 1954 to December of 1957. On May 28, 1957 he was united in marriage to Mary "Rita" Blake of St. Paul, Minnesota in New Hampton, Iowa. To this union four children were born.
Vern had been a professional film projectionist all of his working life. He and Rita had lived in various locations around the country, living in southern California for 20 years, before moving to New Zealand for a time and later returning to the United States, settling in Iowa.
Vern had a wide variety of interests and hobbies. Music was a big part of his life. He sang bass in a barber shop quartet in both Centerville, Iowa and San Diego, California. He spent many hours working with model trains and railroading and he was an avid amateur photographer. But most of all, Vern enjoyed his time spent as a ham radio operator. He was licensed in 1956 and had talked to every country in the world except one. He had achieved the distinction of being an extra class radio operator with call signs WØVV. Vern was a member of the Como Park Masonic Lodge No. 324 A.F. & A.M., and the Film Projection Union I.A.T.S.E.
He is survived by his wife Rita of Creston; a daughter Ferne Lane and husband Larry of Mount Ayr, Iowa; three sons, Walter Van Valkenburg and wife Carolyn of Lenox, Iowa, Jesse Van Valkenburg and wife Paula of Mount Ayr and James Van Valkenburg of Creston; and 11 grandchildren.
Preceding him in death were his maternal grandparents, Verner and Annette Bower of the Redding area and his parents, Walter and Ferne Van Valkenburg.
Private memorial services will be held at a later date. The Ritchie Funeral Home of Creston is in charge of arrangements.
FRANCES OLIVE BOLES
Frances Olive Day Boles, age 87, of Mount Ayr, Iowa, was born March 31, 1912 at her parents' home in Grand River, Iowa. She was the daughter of Daniel Warren and Madora Leah (Landis) Day. She died December 23, 1999 at Clearview Nursing Home in Mount Ayr.
Frances graduated from high school in Grand River.
Frances married Everett Lowell Boles on September 16, 1933 at Osceola, Iowa. They raised a nephew George Sego. Everett and Frances farmed together.
Frances was a member of the Grand River United Methodist Church. She liked to garden and also played the piano at the Tennessee church. She was a member of 4-G in Grand River. In 1995, she and Everett entered Clearview Nursing Home, where Frances enjoyed playing bingo.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Warren and Madora Day; her husband Everett Boles; two sisters, Dale Gilreath and Margery Havard; and three brothers-in-law, Harold Gilreath, William Eberly and Oren Havard.
Survivors include her son George Sego and Julie Chizek, Jesse and Kacey, all of Diagonal, Iowa; Judy Sego of Humeston, Iowa; three granddaughters, Bonnie Arnold of Indianola, Iowa, Peggy Jones of Osceola, Iowa and Cindy Richardson of Tama, Iowa; seven great-grandchildren, Kara and Meghin, Allen, Katie and ShayDe, and Denice and Calvin; sister Alice Eberly of Des Moines, Iowa; sisters-in-law Wanda Smith and husband Mansel of Fort Dodge, Iowa and Dorothy Boles of Osceola; brother-in-law Roy Jones of Grand River; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held Monday, December 27, 1999 at Slade-O'Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, Iowa with Reverend Raymond Doser officiating.
Interment was in Grand River Cemetery, Grand River.
A memorial fund has been established by the family.
NEOMA MAY BUCY
Neoma May Feuring Bucy was the fifth child born to Charles Frederic and Catherine Maria Nolte Feuring on April 8, 1922 at Nevinville, Iowa, and entered into eternal rest on December 18, 1999 at the Afton Care Center, Afton, Iowa.
She moved with her family to a farm south of Kellerton, Iowa in 1930 and had lived around Kellerton the rest of her life.
Neoma graduated from the Kellerton high school in 1939 and later attended Drake University where she obtained a B.S. degree in elementary education. She taught schools in Decatur and Ringgold counties for a period of 31 years, retiring in 1979.
On June 29, 1944 she was united in marriage to John Francis Huss at Martinsdale, Iowa. To this union one son was born, Larry Francis Huss. In 1949 Mr. Huss passed away at the V.A. Hospital in Des Moines. On May 13, 1965 she was united in marriage to Roy Earl Bucy and became the mother to two of his children, Bonnie Lee 12 years and William Leroy eight years.
She was a member of the Kellerton United Methodist Church where she taught a Sunday school class for little folks for several years. She also served as Sunday school superintendent and secretary of United Methodist Women.
After retirement she babysat for many little ones in the community and became "Grandma" to them. She loved little ones and was always happiest when they were around her.
Neoma was a charter member of the American Legion Auxiliary and belonged to the United Methodist Church and the U.M.W.
Survivors include her children, Larry Huss and wife Jane, Bonnie Morris and her husband Mitchell and William "Billy" Bucy; stepchildren, Kay Hammock and Janice Rakestraw; grandchildren, Jacob and Dawson Huss, Danny Lee and Dwayne Williams, Zachary and Clayton Morris, Billy Bucy, Rhonda, Brad, Brian and Kim Hammock and on August 14, 1999, she was thrilled to have a great-granddaughter Dakota Williams; brother Elmer Feuring and wife Violet; sister Violet Couch and husband Carl; sisters-in-law Ruth and Margie Feuring; many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Those preceding her in death were her parents, Charles and Catherine Feuring; husbands John Huss and Roy Bucy; brothers Rudolph and Warren Feuring; a sister and brother-in-law Alice and Don Keller; and a sister-in-law Irene Feuring.
Funeral services were held at the United Methodist Church, Kellerton on Wednesday, December 22, 1999 with Pastor Rick Hawkins officiating. Casketbearers were Mike Couch, Fred Feuring, Glen Keller, Dennis Keller, Jim Keller, Bill Keller, Ron Feuring and Bob Keller.
Neoma was laid to rest in the Maple Row Cemetery, Kellerton.
A memorial has been established to the United Methodist Church, Kellerton.
Wilson-Watson & Armstrong Funeral Home of Mount Ayr is in charge of arrangements.
EVELYN BERNICE MANNING
Evelyn Bernice Miller Manning was born April 22, 1922 at Reinbeck, Iowa to Thomas and Catherine McGowan Miller. Evelyn passed away on December 25, 1999 at Mercy Hospital Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa at the age of 77.
Evelyn grew up in Reinbeck and graduated from high school in Reinbeck. She graduated from the Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Evelyn would later work towards and earn her bachelors in art degree.
On August 11, 1946, she was united in marriage to W. J. Manning in Reinbeck and to this union three children were born.
Evelyn and W. J. lived in Cedar Falls for three years before purchasing a farm one and one half miles south of Beaconsfield, Iowa in 1949.
Evelyn was an elementary school teacher for several years with the last 17 years teaching at the Clarke Community school in Weldon, Iowa. Evelyn was a member of the Beaconsfield Methodist Church, U. M. W., Iowa Retired Teachers Association, 22 club and Card club.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Catherine Miller, and her brother Russell Brice Miller, at the age of 12.
Left to cherish her memory is her loving husband W. J. of Beaconsfield; two sons, Russell Manning and wife Rhonda of Montgomery, Alabama and Ralph Manning and wife Vicki of Chattanooga, Tennessee; a daughter Cathy Scullen and husband Richard of Indianola, Iowa; seven grandchildren, Angela and Charity Manning of South Carolina, Katie and Carrie Manning of Littleton, CO, Jessica, Laura and Daniel Scullen of Indianola and one great-grandson Vlad Manning; one brother, Homer Miller and wife Margaret of Reinbeck; one sister Leila Lovercheck and husband Charles of Erie, Pennsylvania; and other relatives and a host of good friends.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 30, 1999 at 10:30 a.m. at Wilson-Watson & Armstrong Funeral Home, Mount Ayr, Iowa. Pastor Rick Hawkins will officiate the service and Mary Ann Smith and Barry Orness will provide music. Casket-bearers will be Bob Reasoner, Jim Smith, Jerry McAlexander, John Reasoner, Richard Scullen and Richard Tidman.
Evelyn will be laid to rest in the Maple Row Cemetery, Kellerton, Iowa.
Wilson-Watson & Armstrong Funeral Home of Mount Ayr is in charge of the arrangements.
HAZEL MERCER
Ona Dell Hazel Mercer was born in Gage county, Oklahoma, September 4, 1902 to George and Mollie (Tackett) Hiatt, and departed this life January 15, 2000 in the Mount Ayr Health Care Center, Mount Ayr, Iowa, at the age of 97 years, four months and 11 days.
As a young girl she lived in the rural area of Kansas City, Kansas. On January 24, 1916 she was united in marriage to Roy Mercer in Mount Ayr. To this union one son was born who died at birth. A foster son, Bernard Edward Straight, also died at an early age.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Roy, her infant son and foster son, and seven brothers and sisters, names unknown. Her entire life was spent as a farmer's wife or a farmer in her own right, living in Taylor and Ringgold county, Iowa, except for a few years as a young girl living with relatives in the rural Kansas City area.
Always thrifty, Hazel lived a frugal life working hard and industriously. She cared for her invalid husband for several years while continuing the farming operation. In doing so she gained the respect and admiration of all who knew her. With the assistance of the Ringgold County Public Health personnel she was able to remain in her own home on the farm until December, 1995 when she moved to the Mount Ayr Health Care Center.
She is survived by nieces and nephews.
Services were held Tuesday, January 18, 2000 at Wilson-Watson & Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr with Reverend Scott Marcum officiating. Nancy Sackett, Mary Trullinger and Margaret Bickers provided music. Casketbearers were Marcia Showalter, Sue Beck, Becky Fletchall, Sharon Carr, Carol Anne Galloway and Sharla Norris.
Hazel was laid to rest in the Platteville Cemetery, Blockton, Iowa.
NIRA GLEE MOORE
Nira Glee Stevens Moore, daughter of Homer R. and Edith Beadle Stevens, was born February 17, 1904, northwest of Diagonal, Iowa. She passed away on January 15, 2000 at the Clearview Home in Mount Ayr, Iowa.
She was united in marriage to Claude D. Moore and to this union was born a son, Claude Dale Moore, Jr.
She enjoyed life to the fullest and her greatest joy was being around her family.
She was preceded in death by her husband Claude; her parents, Homer and Edith Stevens; three grandchildren; a sister Vera Harriman; three brothers, Walter, R.B. and Cecil Stevens; and a sister-in-law Dorothea Stevens.
She is survived by her son Claude and his wife Ruth Ann of Primghar, Iowa; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, Steven Moore and his children Kelly and Andrew all of Denver, Colorado; Annette Lusero and husband Vick and their son Samuel all from Longmont, Colorado; and Denise Philiph and husband Kelly and their children Michael, Angie and Christie Frangenberg, all from Primghar; one great-great-granddaughter Ashley Frangenberg; a sister Donna Bear and husband Orville Bear of Mount Ayr; two sisters-in-law, Verna and Mary Stevens of Des Moines; and many nieces, nephews, family members and a host of friends.
Services were held on Tuesday, January 18, 2000 at Wilson-Watson & Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr with Reverend John Brillo officiating. Ginny Eighmy and Dr. Collus Lawhead provided music. Casket-bearers were Jim Mahan, Don Solliday, Max McGehee, Hugh Terwilliger, Jerry Kemery and Merritt Triggs.
She was laid to rest in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr.
