Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
STEVEN BERNARD MYER
Steven Bernard Myer was born February 4, 1954, at Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Bernard Lee and Irene Gladys (Selk) Myer.
Steve graduated from Northwest Webster Community high school at Barnum, Iowa in 1972. He was a plumber and electrician for 28 years and has operated Myer Plumbing in Mount Ayr the past 22 years, having lived in Grant City, Missouri, Elk City, Oklahoma, Clare, Iowa and Gilmore City, Iowa.
Steve was united in marriage to Jackie Ellis at the Weldon Christian Church in Weldon, Iowa, on May 26, 1990. This marriage was blessed with two daughters, Tessia Irene and Bailey Frances. Steve accomplished many things during his life but his accomplishments as a father and a husband were his greatest. Steve found great joy in spending time with his family and was the best Daddy two little girls could ever ask for.
Steve's second greatest accomplishment was all the love and friendship he shared with his family and many friends. Quick to smile, slow to judge and ready to laugh, Steve was irresistable to anyone who spent time with him. He was able to see the goodness in all those around him.
Steve worked hard but played every bit as hard. He had a knack for taking the simple and mundane moments and turning them into exciting and joyous events. His belief that life should never be taken too seriously brought delight to all those who knew and loved him.
Steve passed away unexpectedly on the morning of December 28, 2000.
He was preceded in death by his mother Irene; his grandparents, Henry Selk, Glen and Bertha Myer; and his father-in-law Jerry Ellis.
Left to mourn his death yet treasure his memory include his loving wife Jackie and their two daughters Tess and Bailey; his father Bernard Myer and wife Joyce of Allendale, Missouri; a brother Scott and wife Anna of Casselbury, Florida; three sisters, Ginger Cox and husband Brent, Susan Myer, all of Des Moines, Iowa, and Shirlee Doster of Adel, Iowa; his grandmother Mabel Selk of Fort Dodge; his mother-in-law Fran Ellis of Weldon; a brother-in-law Doug Ellis and wife Cristy of Sioux City, Iowa; sister-in-law Teri Walker of Corydon, Iowa; nieces, nephews, cousins and many good dear friends who touched his life.
Services were held Monday, January 1, 2001, at the First Baptist Church in Mount Ayr with Reverend Diana Holland. Comments were given by Mrs. Kathy Rinehart. Musicians were Mrs. Nancy Sackett and Dr. Collus Lawhead.
Casket bearers were Chris Doster, Jamen Cox, Doug Ellis, Josh Doster, Kenny Dean Myer and Iona Myers. Honorary pallbearers were high school friends, bowling, softball, basketball and golf buddies, friends at Southwest Builders, his contractors and suppliers, companions of the infamous Table of Enlightenment, and numerous friends and family who touched his life.
Steve was laid to rest in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr.
RALPH SKINNER
Ralph P. Skinner, age 85, of Blockton, Iowa, died Monday, January 1, 2001, at the Worth County Convalescent Center in Grant City, Missouri.
Ralph was born October 29, 1915, in Kellerton, Iowa, the son of Fred Skinner and Frances Elizabeth Gray Skinner. He grew up in the Kellerton, Mount Ayr and Shannon City, Iowa areas graduating form the Mount Ayr school in 1936. On November 28, 1937 he was united in marriage to Jean Davis. In 1963 he graduated from Northwest Missouri State University.
Ralph always thought education was very important and was a schoolteacher, teaching math, English, history and physical education most of his life. He taught for 10 years for the Ringgold rural schools, 12 years for the Blockton community schools and 20 years for the Bedford Community schools.
Along with teaching, Ralph coached for over 50 years. He coached high school basketball, baseball and softball along with junior high football, baseball, girl's basketball, softball and track. Ralph officiated several years for high school football, basketball and baseball. Not only was Ralph an excellent teacher and coach, he also played town team basketball until he was 45 years old.
Ralph also drove a school bus for over 30 years. He was a diehard Iowa Hawkeye fan and St. Louis Cardinal fan. He enjoyed the outdoors, hunting and fishing when time allowed. He was a member of the Blockton Christian Church.
Ralph is survived by two children, Mary Jo Hughes and husband Glenn of Grant City, Missouri, and Fred Skinner and wife Virginia of Blockton; a step son, Bennie Lee Davis and wife Rita of Brunswick, Georgia; eight grandchildren, many great-grandchildren and a specil friend, Lyla Enabnit.
Preceding Ralph in death were his wife Jean in 1982; his parents, Fred and Elizabeth; a brother Cloyd Skinner; two sisters, Frances Skinner and Ruth Vanderflught; and a great-granddaughter Etta Jo.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, January 3, 2001, at the Blockton Chrisitan church with Pastors Scott Marcum and Bill Farrens officiating.
Interment was held in the Rose Hill Cemtery, Blockton. Memorials can be given in his name.
Ritchie Funeral Home of Bedford was in charge of the arrangements.
MERLE DUANE TRIGGS
Merle Duane Triggs was born January 14, 1918, in a farm home in Middle Fork township, Ringgold county, Iowa, to Henry Martin and Mary Julia (Black) Triggs. He lived his entire life in Ringgold county where he was a farmer, and departed this life December 30, 2000, at the age of 82 years, 11 months and 16 days.
At the age of 15, Duane accepted Christ as his personal savior and was baptized in the Ewing Ford River in Missouri. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Mount Ayr, Iowa, where he served as Sunday school teacher, a deacon and an usher.
He graduated from eighth grade at a little one-room country schoolhouse at Walnut Valley. He attended high school at Mount Ayr graduating in 1936. He served his country from January 1942 to August 1945, three years and eight months. He took his basic training for 13 weeks in Camp Roberts, California. Then Duane went overseas to serve in the Southwest Pacific Conflict. His ship landed in Australia. He was in the 2nd Battalion, 126 Infantry and the 32nd Red Arrow Division. He was a corporal on a 37-millimeter tank gun and a rifleman. After he was trained to use these large guns, he was sent to New Guinea where he walked over the Owen Stanley Mountain, taking 42 days to push the Japanese out of Boona. Many of his comrades lost their lives.
On July 6, 1949, Duane married Iona Marie Baker. They made their home on the family farm. He raised registered Hereford cattle that he showed at the different fairs. He was a diversified farmer and was a good steward of the land. To this union were born five children: Marilyn, Mark, Melonie, Merle and Max.
Duane was a leader of the Liberty Boys 4-H Club for 33 years. He helped the boys and girls to be well-rounded citizens. He was a school director of Flowery Glen school, was president of Ringgold County Farm Bureau, was a Farm Bureau township director and was a member of the American Legion.
Survivors include his wife Iona Triggs; two daughters, Marilyn Bierma of Peoria, Illinois, and Melonie Knapp of Shawnee, Kansas; two sons, Mark Triggs and Merle Triggs, both of Mount Ayr; two daughters-in-law, Lynda Triggs and Rhonda Triggs; two sons-in-law, Paul Bierma and Tyler Knapp; 13 grandchildren, Scott, Jonathan and Andrew Bierma, Adam, Amy, Shane and Sheldon Triggs, Alissa, Trisha and Timothy Knapp, Lucan, Lyndon and Lindsey Triggs, many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.
Services were held Wednesday, January 3, 2001, at the First Baptist Church in Mount Ayr with Reverends Diana Holland and John Brillo officiating. Musicians were Nancy Sackett, Dwight Ingram, Mary Trullinger and Margaret Bickers, with musical selections, "I Bowed on My Knee and Cried," "Holy" and "Serenaded by Angels."
Casket bearers were Jonathan Bierma, Lucan Triggs, Andrew Bierma, Scott Bierma, Lyndon Triggs and Adam Triggs. Honorary pallbearers were Amy Triggs, Sheldon Triggs, Trisha Knapp, Timothy Knapp, Alissa Knapp, Shane Triggs and Lindsey Triggs.
Military graveside rites were given by Ringgold Post #172 American Legion.
Duane 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.
NORA (FORKNER) ARNOLD
Nora Adalada (Forkner) Arnold, age 99 of Mount Ayr, Iowa, daughter of William Ernest and Alice (Chambers) Nicholas, was born October 18, 1901, in Rippey, Iowa, and died January 4, 2001, at Ringgold County Hospital in Mount Ayr.
Nora grew up in Rippey. She married David Edgar Forkner on December 19, 1920. To this union four children were born: Helen Marie, Duane Earl, Dale Edgar and Jerry Dean.
Edgar and Nora farmed near Creston, Iowa. Edgar died November 3, 1970. Nora then moved to Leon, Iowa, where she and son Jerry made their home.
Nora took special, loving care of Jerry. In 1987 Jerry moved into the newly-opened Ringgold County Group Home. Nora moved to Mount Ayr a short while later to be near her son.
On November 15, 1993, Nora married Vernon Lloyd Arnold at West Bend, Oregon. They made their home in Mount Ayr where they enjoyed gardening and visiting with friends at the Community Center. Nora also enjoyed making many afghans for her family and friends.
Vernon died July 20, 1996. Nora moved into Clearview Nursing Home in Mount Ayr in May 1997. Her son Jerry was also at Clearview and Nora was able to be near Jerry until his death on February 24, 1998. Nora was a smiling, spry woman, whose mind remained sharp thoughout her life.
Nora was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church while in Leon. She then transferred her membership to First Lutheran Church in Mount Ayr.
Nora was also preceded in death by her sons Dale and Duane Forkner.
She is survived by daughter Helen Womochil and husband Edward of Tucson, Arizona; daughter-in-law Eva Mae Gustoff and husband Jack of Scranton, Iowa; 12 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren; 19 great-great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held Monday, January 8, 2001, at Slade-O'Donnell Funeral Home in Leon with Reverend William Gleason officiating.
Burial was in Murray Cemetery, Murray, Iowa.
Memorials may be given to First Lutheran Church of Mount Ayr.
EVELYN M. BRADLEY
Evelyn M. Bradley, 78, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, formerly of Mount Ayr, Iowa, died December 20, 2000, in a care center in Minneapolis. Services were December 23, 2000, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Creston, Iowa. The Reverend Leonard Kenkel officiated with burial in Calvary Cemetery.
Mrs. Bradley was born January 16, 1922, in Mount Ayr to Lyman and Ethel (Daniels) Baker. She graduated from Tingley high school. In 1942 she was married to Daryl Bradley of Creston. She was a homemaker and lived in Creston and Des Moines before moving to Minneapolis in 1959.
Survivors include her husband, Daryl; two daughters, Jacquelyn (husband Phil McCracken) of Tucson, Arizona, and Roselyn (husband Loren Schultz) of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; a son Dennis (wife Bridget) of Minneapolis, Minnesota; four brothers, R.D. (wife Rayma) Baker of Blue Springs, Missouri, Dick (wife Carol ) Baker of Des Moines, Iowa, Kenneth (wife Patricia) Baker of Osceola, and Terry (wife Kathy) Baker of Windsor, Colorado; two sisters, Rose Mary (husband Darold) and Cheryl of Des Moines; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Lyman and Ethel Baker; stepmother, Helen Baker; three brothers, Gerald, Darrel and Robert; and two brothers-in-law.
Memorials may be directed to St. Malachy Catholic School in Creston.
DAVID P. CARLIN
David P. Carlin, age 81, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, died Wednesday in a Springdale, Arkansas nursing home.
He was born December 9, 1919, in San Luis Obispo, California. He was a resident of Fayetteville for the past two years, moving there from North Hollywood, California.
He was a long-time employee and retired from Security Pacific National Bank of Los Angeles. He was a member of Immanuel Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles and attended First United Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville. He was a docent at the Gene Autry Western Museum in Los Angeles, California.
He is survived by his wife Martha J. (Moore) Carlin, and mother-in-law Savilla Eddy of Mount Ayr, Iowa.
A memorial service was held in California. Arrangements were by Nelson Funeral Home in Fayetteville.
MARY URETTA KIMBERLIN
Mary Uretta (Dunn) Kimberlin was born on March 27, 1920, in Manhattan, Kansas to William Lewis and Nellie Lucretia (Jones) Dunn. And departed this life on January 2, 2001, at the Decatur County Hospital in Leon, Iowa.
Mary lived in various Kansas cities before settling in Scandia, Kansas where she attended the elementary and high school.
She was united in marriage to Nemel Kimberlin on May 23, 1936. To this union were born two sons, Calvin and Allen, and five daughters, Virginia, Judy, Norma, Sharon and Karen.
Mary and Nemel made their home in Diagonal, Iowa where they raised their family. Nemel departed this life in 1964. In 1983 Mary moved to Leon where she has made her home and was a member of the Loving Chapel United Methodist Church.
Preceding her in death were her parents, husband, son Calvin and daughter Norma, three grandchildren, brother Bill Dunn and sister Betty Owens.
She leaves to mourn her passing her son Allen, daughters, Virginia, Judy, Sharon and Karen, 13 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, two sisters, Vivian Chicola and Lillian Sanders, in addition to a host of friends, nieces and nephews.
Mary left friends in Diagonal, Grand River and Leon who will greatly miss her.
Services were held January 8, 2001, at the Loving Chapel United Methodist Church in Leon with Reverend Roger Wolsey officiating. Musicians were Judy Kimberlin and Vicki Saxton. Casket bearers were family and friends of Mary.
Mary was laid to rest in the Marshalltown Cemetery, Benton, Iowa.
Wilson-Watson & Armstrong Funeral Home of Mount Ayr was in charge of the arrangements.
