Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
Violet Elizabeth Nelson
Nov. 14, 1915 - June 14, 2001
Violet Elizabeth Nelson, 85, of Keokuk, died Thursday, June 14, 2001, at River Hills Village in Keokuk.
She was born on Nov. 14, 1915, in rural Argyle, the daughter of James and Violet Scovern McCarty. After the death of her parents, she was raised by her aunts, Frances and Mahala Scovern. She married
Laurence E. Nelson on May 29, 1940, in rural Argyle. He preceded her in death on Sept. 5, 1997.
Survivors include: a daughter, Kristin Whitaker and her husband, Bruce, of Keokuk; a son, Alan Nelson and his wife, Denise, of Keokuk; a granddaughter, Kelsey Whitaker of Keokuk; and several nieces and nephews.
She was also preceded in death by the aunts who raised her and four brothers, Gerald McCarty, Robert McCarty, Gilbert "Giggs" McCarty and Harold "Tim" McCarty.
She graduated from Argyle High School and attended Iowa Wesleyan College where she earned her teaching degree. She had taught at Columbia, Eagle and Nashville Township schools in Lee County for eight years and then taught at Wells-Carey elementary school in Keokuk for 17 years, retiring in 1982.
Mrs. Nelson was a member of the Retired Teacher's Association and had served on the Jackson Township election board for 10 years.
Mrs. Nelson was also a member of the Melrose United Methodist Church and was active in the Women's Circle of the church.
Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Monday, June 18, at the Melrose United Methodist Church with the Rev. John Abraham officiating.
Burial will be in the Scandinavian Cemetery, rural Keokuk.
Visitation is after 1 p.m. Sunday, June 17, at Vigen Memorial Home in Keokuk with family meeting friends from 7 to 9 p.m.
Memorials may be made to the Melrose United Methodist Church.
Kenneth R. Williams
Feb. 9, 1914 - April 15, 2001
Kenneth R. Williams, 87, of Keokuk, died Sunday, April 15, 2001, at Keokuk Area Hospital.
He was born on Feb. 9, 1914, in Sutter, Ill., the son of John Preston and Iona Fryer Williams. He married
Margaret Ellenberg on Nov. 19, 1938, in Kahoka, Mo. She preceded him in death on April 19, 1998.
Survivors include: a daughter, Linda Sisk and her husband, Gene, of Keokuk; a son, Kenneth Williams Jr. of Ellisville, Mo.; two granddaughters, Lori Miller and her husband, Frank, of Pulaski and Gina Sisk of Mount Pleasant; a grandson, Jeffrey Sisk of Creston; four great-grandchildren, Jennifer, Dustin, Dakota and Nathan; and a brother, John Preston Williams of Branson, Mo.
He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Helen Hamilton and Gwendolyn Neptune.
Mr. Williams started his employment with the Hubinger Company of Keokuk in 1943.
His service was interrupted as he joined the United States Navy in 1943 and served on the USS Jenkins until his discharge in 1945.
He then returned to Hubingers and was promoted to starch supervisor in 1955. He retired in 1976 with 33 years of service. After his retirement he enjoyed time with his family, fishing, camping and most of all gardening.
Mr. Williams was affectionately known as "The Tomato Man".
He was a member of the American Legion Post #41, the Eagles, the Moose and a past member of the Isaac Walton Club.
Funeral services are at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Vigen Memorial Home in Keokuk with the Rev. Bill Hartman officiating.
Burial will be in the Sunset Memorial Park in Keokuk.
Visitation is after 1 p.m. Tuesday with family meeting friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the Southeastern Community College Nurses Scholarship Fund.
Thomas William Gawin
Oct. 2, 1957 - Feb. 25, 2001
LONGVIEW, Texas - Thomas William Gawin, 43, died Sunday, February 25, 2001 in Longview.
He was born on October 2, 1957 to Alvin and Germaine Palecek Gawin in Milwaukee, Wis.
Mr. Gawin is survived by his wife, Kristine Gawin; two daughters, Haley and Hannah Gawin, both of Longview; his parents of Milwaukee; sisters and brothers- in-law, Linda and Bill Orth, Janis and Jeff Richardson; a brother, Russ Gawin; brother and sister- in-law, Ron and Colleen Gawin; father-in-law, Phillip Califf and mother-in-law, Kay Califf of Carthage, Ill.; brother-in-law, Steven Califf ; sister-in-law, Holly Hudson; three nieces, and five nephews.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, an avid golfer, played guitar and enjoyed hunting. His greatest joy was his family.
Funeral services were today at the First Methodist Church, 400 North Fredonia, Longview, with the Rev. Jim Welch officiating.
The family requests no special visitation at the funeral home.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Welch Funeral Home, 210 South Green Street, Longview.
Memorials may be made to the family at 604 Hampshire, Longview, Texas 75604.
Marvin G. Dains
May 14, 1934 - Sept. 28, 2000
MONTROSE - Marvin G. Dains, 66, of rural Montrose, died at 11:24 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, 2000, at Fort Madison Community Hospital.
He was born on May 14, 1934, in Iowa City, the son of James Ray and Minnie Martha Neal Dains. He married
Donna Jeanne Robertson on Feb. 6, 1957, in Santa Monica, Calif. She survives.
Additional survivors include: two sons, Capt. Ron Dains (Susan), USAF Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo., and Douglas Dains (Karrie Keester) of Fort Madison; three daughters, Janet Hissem (Keating), Vicki Vermazen (Jim), all of Montrose and Linda Reed (John Hewett) of Fort Madison; nine grandchildren; a great-grandchild; two sisters, Dorothy Brown of Orange, Calif., and Donna Wear (Ross) of Carthage, Ill.; four brothers, Jerry Dains of Ontario, Canada, Kenny Dains of Coralville, Ray Dains of Las Vegas, Nev., Dave Dains of Glendale, Ariz.; numerous nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Mr. Dains served in the United States Navy as a Machinist Mate Second Class Petty Officer during the Korean Conflict from 1952 to 1956.
He worked for McDonald Douglas in California and then returned to Iowa and was employed by Chevron Chemical for 25 years and was currently employed by Cryotech Deicing Technology in Fort Madison.
Mr. Dain was a 30 year member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. He was a past member of the Isaac Walton League.
Mr. Dains always greatly enjoyed spending time with co-workers, friends and family. He loved crossword puzzles and was an avid reader.
Funeral services are at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 2, at Vigen Memorial Home in Keokuk, with John Moles officiating.
Graveside services with full military honors will be at the Charleston Cemetery, Charleston.
Visitation is after 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, with family meeting friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Ruth "Dorothy' Katherine Brinkley Davis
Dec. 2, 1929 - Oct. 9, 1999
Ruth "Dorothy" Katherine Brinkley Davis, 69, of Keokuk, died Saturday, Oct. 9, 1999, at the home of her daughter.
She was born on Dec. 2, 1929, in Jackson Township, Lee County, the daughter of John Ezra and Florence Alice Spiker Brinkley. She married
J.C. Lewis Jr. on Nov. 30, 1942, in Keokuk. She then married
Russell O. Davis on April 22, 1965, in Palmyra, Mo. He preceded her in death on Nov. 4, 1980.
Survivors include: six daughters, Karen Stark and her husband Roy of Ormond Beach, Fla., Sally Sigler and her friend, Joe Grimes of Jonesboro, Ark., Janet Lewis and her friend, Allen Lutterman of Rose Lodge, Ore., Sue Hammer and her husband, Ed, of Ketchum, Okla., Florence Hensley and her husband, Larry of Keokuk and Kathie Kelly of Hamilton, Ill.; five sons, J.C. Lewis III and his wife, Pam of Hannibal, Mo., Russell Davis Jr., and his wife, Angel of Keokuk, William Davis and his wife, Misty of Hermosa, S.D.; John Lewis and his wife, Robin, of Macon, Mo., and Paul Kelly of Keokuk; five sisters, Ruth Eckland of Keokuk, Gloria Brewington and Mildred Eaton, both of Piedmont, Mo., Nancy Mathias of St. Louis, Mo., and Carol Weber and her husband, Jerry "Bud" of Keokuk; three brothers, Melvin Brinkley of Mill Spring, Mo., George Brinkley of Piedmont and Denny Brinkley of Rolla, Mo.; 44 grandchildren; and 30 great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by her parents; two sons, Gary Lee Lewis and Charles Elmer Lewis; two sisters, Charlotte Dobbins and Patty Ballard; three brothers, Myron Dray, Wilbert Brinkley and Lloyd Brinkley; and three grandchildren, Jerald Leroy Mortimer, Rodger Wayne Kettering and Billy H. Sigler, Jr.
She was a lifelong resident of Keokuk and was an active member of the Bethany Baptist Church and the Keokuk Area Hospital Auxiliary.
Funeral services are at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Vigen Memorial Home in Keokuk with Brother Bill Hauser officiating.
Burial will be in the Oakland Cemetery, Keokuk.
Visitation is today with family meeting friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association or the American Heart Association.
Billie Lee Kay Sr.
Aug. 26, 1931 - Nov. 15, 1999
Billie Lee Kay Sr., 68, of 2028 Des Moines Street, Keokuk, died at 12:45 a.m. Monday, Nov. 15, 1999, at his home.
He was born on Aug. 26, 1931, in Keokuk, the son of Henry William and Anna Flora Young Kay. He married
Dorothy A. Hastings on Sept. 29, 1950, in Keokuk. She survives.
Additional survivors include: three sons, Billie Lee Kay Jr., Randy Ray Kay and his wife, Sue, and James Kim Kay and his wife, Sherry, all of Keokuk; five grandchildren, Tony Kay of Burlington, Jeffrey Kay, Renee Kay, Aaron Kay and Abre Kay, all of Keokuk; two great-grandchildren, Chaylea Ann Kay and Jordan Wayne Kay of Burlington; four brothers, Henry Kay Jr., Robert Kay and Jack Kay, all of Keokuk and Doug Kay and his wife, Debbie, of Burlington; a sister, Marie Hall of Keokuk; several nieces and nephews; and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Chester and Lawrence "Touch" Kay.
He was a lifelong resident of Keokuk and had been employed for 42 years at Dryden Rubber/UTA/Schlegel.
Mr. Kay was a member of the URW Local #444, United Steel Workers Local #444 and a former member of The Eagles, Aerie #608 in Keokuk.
Graveside services are at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Oakland Cemetery in Keokuk, with the Rev. Dale Thomas officiating.
Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery following the service.
Visitation is today with family meeting friends from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at DeJong's Funeral Home in Keokuk.
Memorials may be made to the Lee County Hospice.
