Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
MARY ELLEN BUCK
Mrs. Mary Ellen Buck, age 85, of the Iowa Jewish Senior Life Center in Des Moines, Iowa, died Saturday, December 1, 2001, at theKavanagh House in Des Moines.
Mrs. Buck was born in Brooksville, Mississippi. She moved to Ames, Iowa in the 1930s and lived several places before coming to a farm west of Des Moines in 1954. She farmed with her husband west of Des Moines from 1954 to retirement.
She enjoyed painting china, raising African violets, cooking and gardening.
Mrs. Buck was preceded in death by her husband Robert Buck in 1995.
Survivors include a daughter Martha Buck of rural Redfield, Iowa; granddaughters, Cynthia Alexander Robin-son of Spirit Lake, Iowa and Christina Alexander Hollen of rural Van Meter, Iowa; two great-grandsons, one great-granddaughter and one great-granddaughter soon to be born.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, December 5, 2001 at Dunn's Funeral Home in Des Moines.
Mrs. Buck was laid to rest in the Ames Municipal Cemetery, Ames.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Central Iowa, Kavanagh House.
RUTH LAVERN CREES
Ruth Lavern Ellars Crees, age 89, of Leon, Iowa, was born February 12, 1912 to Charles Peter and Etta (Shaffner) Ellars at Terre Haute, Iowa in Decatur county, and passed away at Westview Acres Care Center in Leon on November 24, 2001.
She attended school in Decatur, Iowa through the eleventh grade. On March 30, 1929, she was married to Michael Samuel Crees at Bethany, Missouri. They lived briefly at Van Wert, Iowa as Michael taught school, then they moved to the home farm at rural Decatur. Seven children were born while they lived at the Decatur farm.
They then moved to the Beaconsfield, Iowa area in 1948, where an infant son was born and died at birth. Moving into the town of Beaconsfield in 1960, Ruth continued her education and received her GED. She was the assistant postmaster of Beaconsfield for several years.
Michael passed away on April 11, 1979, eleven days after their 50th wedding anniversary. Ruth moved to Parkview Apartments in 1987 and made her home there until illness required her to move to Westview Acres Care Center in 1998.
Ruth was a longtime member of the Cozy Corner Club in Beaconsfield. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting and playing the organ.
Preceding her in death were her parents; husband; infant son Clarence; son-in-law Ralph Jones; brothers, Orestues "Reese," Clarence and Ben Ellars; sisters, Evalyn "Cleve" Akers, Pearl Norman, Nellie Graves and Bess Reynolds.
Surviving are her children: Willis Crees and wife Peggy of Waterloo, Iowa, Willa Poore and husband Duane of Mount Ayr, Iowa, Kenneth Crees and wife Bonnye of Pinetop, Arizona, LeRoy Crees and wife Velma of Brownstown, Indiana, Barbara Jones, Patricia Crees and Carl Crees and wife Carol, all of Leon; 21 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Opal Ellars of Leon; and many other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, November 28, 2001 at the Slade O'Donnell Funeral Home in Leon with Reverend Roger Wolsey officiating.
Burial was in the Oak Hill Cemetery near Grand River, Iowa.
A memorial fund has been set up for the employees of Westview Acres Care Center in Leon.
GUY FRANCIS REYNOLDS
Guy Francis Reynolds was born November 30, 1947 in Creston, Iowa, the son of Dale Manson and Marian Edith Johnson Reynolds. He departed this life on December 1, 2001 at the Park Place Care Center in Glenwood, Iowa.
Guy spent the most of his life in homes for the handicapped where he was loved by all who cared for him. He always had a smile for those who visited or cared for him. He loved to rock in his rocking chair and enjoyed going on the different outings that were taken by the residents.
He was preceded in death by his father Dale Reynolds.
Left to mourn his passing are his mother and stepfather Marian and Ben Solomon of Surprise, Arizona; his brother Scott Reynolds of Phoenix, Arizona; sisters, Connie Rogers of Colo, Iowa, Gwen and husband Donnie Wilhite of Glendale, Arizona and Colleen and husband Jeff Netcott of Redding, California; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He will be missed by many other friends and acquaintances he made through the years.
Funeral services were held Thursday, December 6, 2001 at Wilson-Watson & Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr with Reverend Diana Holland officiating. Musicians were Nancy Sackett, Mary Trullinger and Margaret Bickers. Pallbearers were Donnie Wilhite, Robert Klein, R. J. Brink-meyer, Connie Rogers, Gwen Wilhite and Colleen Netcott.
Guy was laid to rest in the Tingley Cemetery, Tingley, Iowa.
FLORENCE IDA COPPOCK
Florence Ida Coppock, age 81, of the Clearview Home in Mount Ayr, formerly of Tingley, Iowa and the Council Bluffs, Iowa area, died Thursday, December 20, 2001, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
Florence was born September 14, 1920 in Diagonal, Iowa, the daughter of Lilley Florence Johnston and Avery Roy Sanderson. She graduated from Shannon City high school in 1939.
On March 18, 1939 she was united in marriage to Russell Coppock at the United Methodist Church in Creston. Russell preceded her in death in January 1994.
Florence was a homemaker and housewife all of her married life. She first lived in Shannon City and then lived in Flint, Michigan during the war. She moved to Council Bluffs, Stanton and then to Tingley in 1992. She lived in Tingley until moving to Mount Ayr to the Clearview Home in 1999. Florence loved to sing, do hand work and was always very generous to share.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Tingley, the Friday Singers and the Kitchen Band of Tingley.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Russell; and a son Jack in 1959.
Survivors include sons, Jim (Judy) Coppock of Clarinda, Iowa, John (Josie) Coppock of Carroll, Iowa, Jerry (Judy) Coppock of Bellevue, Nebraska, Jay (Diane) Coppock of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Jeff (Karen) Coppock of Omaha, Nebraska and Jan (Juanita) Coppock of Omaha, Nebraska; one brother Avery (Beverly) Sanderson of Winterset, Iowa; four sisters, Vreva (Hubert "Tumpy") Davenport of Clearfield, Pearl (Harold) Grout of Kansas City, Kansas; Leona (Tony) Driskill of Tingley and Darlene (Richard) Henry of Holts Summit, Missouri; and 34 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, December 29, 2001, at the United Methodist Church in Tingley with Charles Hawkins officiating. A private burial will be held.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to the Tingley Community Center or The Friday Singers.
Powers Funeral Home in Creston is in charge of the arrangements.
FAYE ALSOP MCKINNEY MILLIGAN
Faye Alsop McKinney Milligan's life began February 22, 1913 in Sandy, Utah. She was the youngest of three children. Her mother died in 1918, so Faye was raised by an older sister.
In 1934, Faye came to Iowa to live. Life was quite different from the west and the mountains, but she adapted easily and became a farm wife.
She loved the outdoors and helping with chores and farm work. Lots of canning was done, plus making hot cinnamon rolls to munch on when you got off of the bus.
Faye never worked away from home until her family was raised. Her children include Maurine (husband George) Schmidt of Lorimor, Iowa, LaDene Brown of Kellerton, Iowa and Paul (wife Phyllis) McKinney of Diagonal, Iowa.
Faye had a heart as big as the whole outside. You never left her house hungry or without something she had made in your hand. Taking care of people was a thing she really enjoyed as she worked at the Ringgold County Hospital and Decatur County Hospital for several years.
Faye will be missed by her family, but they know that God only takes the best and she has a lot of stars in her crown.
Faye passed away Tuesday morning, December 18, 2001, at the Mount Ayr Health Care Center where she had been a resident for six years.
Faye and her roommate, Carol Main, became good friends and you didn't see one without the other. They did the folding of bibs and had them on the tables at meal time. They took walks in the summertime together out around the building.
Friendship helps to make things work and for those two it was special.
Funeral services were held Thursday, December 20, 2001, at Wilson-Watson & Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr with Pastor Dwayne Henrichs officiating. Musicians were Nancy Sackett, Darrell Nelson, Mary Trullinger and Margaret Bickers with musical selections, "Wings Of A Dove," "How Great Thou Art" and "Amazing Grace."
Casket bearers were Maurine Schmidt, George Schmidt, Paul McKinney, Phyllis McKinney, LaDene Brown and Darrell Nelson. Honorary pallbearers were Faye's grandchildren.
Faye was laid to rest in the Moon Cemetery, Macksburg, Iowa.
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.
