Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
NORMA E. (HAILEY) EDGERTON
Norma Eilene Hailey Edgerton, age 78, of Mount Ayr, Iowa, formerly of Chariton, Iowa, died December 14, 2000, at the Ringgold County Hospital in Mount Ayr.
Norma was born January 22, 1922, on a farm near Ellston, Iowa, to Henry Erm and Etta Belle (Shields) Hailey, and lived on a farm near Shannon City, Iowa.
During World War II she worked as a nurses' aide in Creston, Iowa, where she met Willard Edgerton. They were married on July 5, 1945, in San Jose, California. Over the next 20 years, they lived in a number of small towns in Iowa while raising three children, Larry born in 1946, Karen born in 1950 and Linda born in 1951.
A high point in Norma's life came when she received her licensed practical nursing degree in 1969.
She lived in Chariton, Iowa before returning to Mount Ayr three months ago to enter the Clearview Nursing Home.
Norma was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 1998; her sister Velma Drake in 1975; and her brother Gerald Hailey in 1998.
Survivors include a son Larry and his wife Carol Edgerton of Madison, Wisconsin; two daughters, Karen Box of Dallas, Texas and Linda and her husband Lou Stanislao of Oviedo, Florida; a brother Lowell and his wife Pearl Hailey of Greenfield, Iowa; and five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Services were held on Saturday, December 16, 2000, at Wilson-Watson & Armstrong Funeral Home of Mount Ayr with Reverend Charles Hawkins officiating. Musicians were Debbie Cannon, Mary Trullinger and Margaret Bickers. Casket bearers were Lou Stanislao, Dennis Hailey, Donald Clouse, Lloyd Drake, Gary Hailey and Herb Warrick.
Norma was laid to rest in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr.
A memorial in Norma's name has been established to the Ringgold County Group Home in Mount Ayr.
VIENNA MAE RICHARDS
Vienna Mae Richards was born to Leon Foster and Lulu Reba (Fullerton) Hall on December 19, 1910 in Atkinson, Nebraska. She died December 10, 2000, at the Clearview Nursing Home, Mount Ayr, Iowa, where she had been a resident for two years.
She was a graduate of Tingley high school and a member of the Tingley Presbyterian Church. Vienna spent nearly all her adult life as a homemaker in Tingley.
She was the mother of two daughters, Linda Watkins (husband Rev. Dick) of Iowa City, Iowa, and Sue Richards of Tingley; also a son Dr. Melvin Richards (wife Doris) of Moline, Illinois. One of her greatest joys in life was to attend sporting events of her three children and 10 grandchildren. Only ill health kept her from being on the bleachers for the 20 great-grandchildren.
In addition to her children and grandchildren she is survived by a sister and brother-in-law, Twilla and Keith Lininger of Shannon City, Iowa; and a sister-in-law Grace Hall of Davenport, Iowa.
Preceding her in death were her parents and brother Marvin Hall.
A family memorial service and burial will be held at a later time. Memorials for the Tingley meal site and fire station will be established in her memory.
FRANKLIN ROYCE DAVIS
Franklin Royce Davis was born April 11, 1917, to Alvin R. and Etta Pearl Gray Davis on a farm near Kellerton, Iowa. He passed away December 19, 2000, at Bates Medical Center in Bentonville, Arkansas, at the age of 83.
Royce graduated from Kellerton high school in 1933 after which he attended the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio, and the American Institute of Business in Des Moines, Iowa.
In 1941 he enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed in several states, as well as serving with the 89th lnfantry Division in the European Theater of Operations. He served four and one-half years in the service and was discharged with the rank of captain.While stationed at Camp Lee at Petersburg, Virginia, he met Pearl Morrison of Mechanicsville, Virginia, and they were united in marriage on May 29, 1943, in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Following the war, Royce and Pearl made their home in Mount Ayr where their daughters, Marilyn and Carol, were born. During this time, Royce was employed at the Security State Bank, serving as president for the last 18 years of his career. After his retirement they moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas, where he was residing at the time of his death.
Royce was preceded in death by his parents.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife Pearl of Bella Vista, Arkansas; his daughters, Marilyn Saville and husband James of Mount Ayr, and Carol Eighmy and husband Mark of Packwood, Iowa; grandsons, Nathan Eighmy and wife Sunny, Brandon Eighmy and fiancée Veronica Myers, and Doug Saville and wife Suzan; great-grandchildren Bailey and Ryan Saville; a sister Louise Meadows of Kellerton; nieces and nephews, and many other friends and relatives.
Services were held on Friday, December 23, 2000, at the United Methodist Church in Mount Ayr with Reverend Michael Druhl officiating. Musicians were Mrs. Malcolm Eighmy and Dr. Collus Lawhead. Casket bearers were Doug Saville, Nathan Eighmy, Brandon Eighmy, Malcolm Eighmy, Craig Elliott and Dave Still.
Honorary pallbearers were LeRoy Blessman, LBanks Wilson, Dr. Charles Lawhead, Alvin Varner, Don Solliday, Clyde Summers, Dan Cunning and Dr. Duane Mitchell.
Franklin was laid to rest in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr.
Wilson-Watson & Armstrong Funeral Home of Mount Ayr was in charge of the arrangements.
DR. GERALD DOWNIE
Dr. Gerald Downie of Kankakee, Illinois, died November 7, 2000, at Provena Heritage Village in Kankakee.
He was born July 20, 1903, in Mount Ayr, Iowa, the first child of Everal Sumner and Emma Barbara Leiser Downie.
On June 30, 1932, he married the former Maurine Hertz. The couple had four children: Emma Jean, Myra May, Joyce and Burton.Dr. Downie, 97, had practiced medicine for more than 60 years and had won a host of civic and religious awards for his service to the community and to the world's missions.
A career medical missionary, he ministered in China, Taiwan, Malaysia, India and Zimbabwe, as well as people in Kankakee county, Illinois when he returned there.
He practiced medicine until 1992, when he retired at the age of 89.
He is preceded in death by his parents Everal and Emma Downie; his wife Maurine on October 1, 1994; one brother Dale Downie; and one sister Bernadine Stewart.
Surviving are one son and daughter-in-law, Burton and Lydia Downie of Denver, Colorado; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Emma Jean Downie of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Myra May and John VanUxem of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Joyce Maurine and Peter Chapman of Australia; one sister Aileene Beaman of Mount Ayr; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Services were held Saturday, November 11, 2000, at Asbury United Methodist Church, where he was a member, with pastors Frank Nestler, Don Long, Herb Thompson and Leah Pogemiller officiating.
Burial was in Mound Grove Gardens Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Asbury United Methodist Church for missions projects selected by the family.
Schreffler Funeral Homes of Kankakee was in charge of arrangements.
BILL FEARNOT
Bill Fearnot, age 67, of Fort Collins, Colorado, died December 21, 2000, at his home.
He was born on May 21, 1933, in Bedford, Iowa, to Elsie Irene Ridenour and Noble Ira Fearnot. He married Christene Busby in 1953. They later divorced. He married Cheryl Williams on March 18, 1995. She preceded him in death.
Bill worked at the Ideal Cement plant as well as additional jobs in an effort to get ahead financially. He owned and operated several businesses in his lifetime: insulation, floor sanding, restaurant/night club and rental properties. He also partnered with a friend in the painting business.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Elsie and Noble Fearnot; and an infant sister.
He is survived by his wife Charline Fearnot of Fort Collins, Colorado; daughters, Kathy Umbaugh of Gallatin Gateway, Montana, and Connie Larsen of Clearfield, Iowa; stepsons, Greg Keller, Brian Keller and Brent Keller; sisters, Shirley Kleckner of Creston, Iowa, Beverly Hargin of Creston, Phyllis Abel of Larkspur, Colorado and Gale Miller of Osceola, Iowa; a brother Dale Fearnot of Kenesaw, Nebraska; and seven grandchildren.
A funeral service was held Saturday, December 23, 2000, at Allnutt Funeral Service/Drake Road Chapel of Fort Collins, Colorado with Reverend Rob White officiating.
He was laid to rest in the Resthaven Memory Gardens, Fort Collins.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Larimer County in care of Allnutt Funeral Service.
BARBARA GORDON
Funeral services for Barbara Gordon, age 51, of Bedford, Iowa, who died Wednesday, December 20, 2000, at the Bedford Nursing & Rehab Center after a long ilness with cancer were held Friday, December 22, 2000, at the Ritchie Funeral Home in Bedford with Pastor Bob Thompson officiating.
Interment was held in the Fairview Cemetery in Bedford.
Barbara Kay Gordon was born August 8, 1949 in Maryville, Missouri, the daughter of Wayne Pace and Coryl Hatfield Pace. She grew up in the Bedford area, graduating from the Bedford high school in 1967. Barbara and Ronald Gordon were married in the fall of 1967. Ron was drafted into the United States Army and the couple traveled and lived in Germany and Oklahoma, returning to Bedford in 1978. In 1979 they divorced.
Barbara remained in Bedford and worked at O'Brien Brothers until they closed. In 1990 Barbara and Mickey Miller opened and ran the Midwest Country Music Theater in Redding, Iowa. Barbara and Mickey moved to Redding in 1994 to be closer to the music theater. Barb then decided to go back to school and attended Southwestern Community College for two years, specializing in computer programming.
After graduation from SWCC, Barb was employed by Travis and Bonnett Law Firm in Bedford as a bookkeeper and tax expert. Because of her ill health she moved back to Bedford in November of this year to be closer to family.
Barbara thoroughly enjoyed country music and people came to the theater from miles around to be together, enjoy the wonderful sounds and to have fun. Barb never knew a stranger, greeting and meeting people everywhere she went with a hello and a smile for all. Barb was known as "Mom" to many and will be missed by all.
She enjoyed animals and had a special spot for her Palomino horse Chico, her cat KiKi and her dog Rebel. Barb could be found spending countless hours engrossed in a good book and had love in her heart for family and friends.
Barbara is survived by her daughter Jennifer Ware and husband Michael of Polk City, Iowa; her parents, Wayne and Coryl Pace of Bedford; a brother Robert Pace of Des Moines, Iowa; a sister Carole Haidsiak and husband Lynn of Bedford; and two nieces, Cara Haidsiak and Pamela Haidsiak, both of Des Moines.
Preceding Barbara in death were a daughter at infancy; her grandparents, Joe and Alta Pace, and grandmother Minnie Hatfield.
MARLIN C. RICKER
Marlin Charles Ricker was born at home, southeast of Diagonal, Iowa, on January 20, 1937. He is the son of Charles and Philomena (Ramold) Ricker.
Marlin graduated from Diagonal high school in 1956. He served his country in the U. S. Army from 1960 to 1963, being stationed in Germany. After his discharge Marlin returned to the family farm.
Marlin enjoyed working the land and tending to the cattle's needs. He used to hunt and fish and he always enjoyed playing cards. Marlin was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church and Ringgold Post #172, American Legion.
Marlin was diagnosed with cancer and died the morning of December 21, 2000, at the Health Care Center in Mount Ayr, Iowa, where he was lovingly cared for.
He was preceded in death by his father Charles; grandparents, Frank and Anna Ricker and Andrew and Barbara Ramold; and his brother-in-law Leo Anderson.
Left to cherish his memory is his mother Philomena Ricker; his sister Barbara Anderson, both of rural Diagonal; two nephews, Dr. Dennis Anderson and his wife Terry of Omaha, NE and Dr. Jerome Anderson and his wife Donella of McComb, Illinois; one niece Margaret Hojjat and her husband Mike of Orland Park, Illinois; six great-nieces and nephews; and friends and neighbors.
Mass of Christian burial was held Saturday, December 23, 2000, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Mount Ayr with Reverend Thomas Dooley officiating. Musicians were Peggy Worthington and Deb Larson. Casket bearers were Hubert Ramold, Junior Ricker, Jerry Stephens, Jack Taylor, Ivan Sobotka and Ken Schaefer.
Marlin was laid to rest in the Bohemian Cemetery, Diagonal. Military rites were given by Ringgold Post #172 American Legion.
Wilson-Watson & Armstrong Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
