Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
Alma Roberts
March 13, 1923 -- June 5, 2009
Alma Roberts, 86, of Keokuk died Friday, June 5, 2009, at her home.
She was born on March 13, 1923, in Hamilton, Ill., the daughter of Thomas Benjamin and Iva Mae Fisher Brown.
She was married
on Oct. 12, 1940, to the love of her life, Beryl Lamar Roberts, and enjoyed his loving companionship for 69 years. He survives.
After raising her children, she worked as admissions clerk for Keokuk Area Hospital and as the insurance clerk for Dr. Phillip Lichtenberg. Through the years she also was the accountant for her husband’s auto service business.
She will be remembered as a loving wife and mother and “the world’s best grandma.” She enjoyed most taking care of her family and friends.
She loved gardening, travel and sewing. She was an excellent cook. She loved life and spending time with her and Beryl’s many friends.
She was an active member of First Christian Church in Keokuk, participating in many activities including Sunday school teacher, CWF and circle activities.
She was a lifetime member and served as the secretary of IOOF Rebekahs, Lodge 13.
In addition to her husband, survivors include: two children, Richard Lamar Roberts of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., and Bonnie Roberts Benesh of Newton and Curacao, Netherlands Antilles; a sister, Alice Hammel of Keokuk; four grandchildren, Pamela and Tom Roberts of St. Paul, Minn., Joseph Benesh and wife, Jennifer, of Miami, Fla., Jared Benesh and wife, Erin, of Olathe, Kan.; and a great-granddaughter, Kylianna Benesh of Miami.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Vincent Brown; two sisters, Bernice Dawson and Mamie Burnett; two brothers who died in childhood; and a daughter-in-law, Pauline Roberts.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at First Christian Church in Keokuk with Pastor Geoff Mitchell officiating. Burial will be in the Keokuk National Cemetery.
Visitation is from 11 a.m. until time of service Wednesday at First Christian Church, with the family meeting with friends at that time.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Christian Church Memorial Fund.
Vigen Memorial Home, Keokuk, is in charge of arrangements.
Karen Marie Barnes
July 19, 1972 -- June 19, 2009
FORT MADISON -- Karen Marie Barnes, 36, of Fort Madison, died Friday, June 19, 2009, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born on July 19, 1972, in Keokuk, to Lawrence 'Dean' and Marilyn Young Hunter.
She married
Michael Barnes on Aug. 14, 1993, in Montrose. He survives.
She worked at the Iowa State Penitentiary in the Human Resources Department. She was a 1990 graduate at Central Lee High School.
Karen loved her kids and attended all their activities. She also loved to shop.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church and Martha Chapter 5 Order of Eastern Star, where she held the position of Worthy Matron.
Additional survivors include: three sons, Adam, Aaron and Anthony Barnes, all at home; her mother, Marilyn Hunter of Montrose; a brother, Jerry Hunter of Montrose; mother and father-in-law, Joanna and Darwin Bertram of Montrose; a brother-in-law, J.R. (Roseann) Barnes of Visalia, Calif.; two sisters-in-law, Kim (Larry) Noble of Fort Madison and Evonne (Chris) Plate; several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents and her father.
Friends may call after 1 p.m. today at King-Lynk Funeral Home and Crematory, Fort Madison, where the family will meet friends from 3 to 6 p.m.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Fort Madison First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Brenda Goodall officiating.
Burial will be in Montrose Cemetery.
A memorial has been established for her children's education fund.
Evelyn G. Sanders
July 18, 1918 -- June 20, 2009
FORT MADISON -- Evelyn G. Sanders, 90, of Fort Madison, formerly of Houghton and West Point, died at 7:05 a.m. Saturday, June 20, 2009, in Fort Madison Health Center.
She was born on July 18, 1918, in Houghton, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Foecke Bentler.
She married
Herman Joseph “Butch” Sanders on Oct. 18, 1938, in Houghton. He preceded her in death on Nov. 9, 1978.
Visitation is after 2 p.m. today at Schmitz-Lynk Funeral Home and Crematory in West Point, where the family will meet with friends from 6 to 8 p.m. A rosary will be recited at 3 p.m., followed by an American Legion Auxiliary service. A Christian wake service will take place at 7 p.m.
A mass of Christian burial service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, West Point, with the Revs. Apo T. Mpanda and Mark Spring as celebrants.
Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, West Point.
Memorials may be made to the St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Sacred Heart Catholic Church or the local chapter of the Iowa Department of the Blind.
Martha E. Perry
Jan. 19, 1922 -- June 20, 2009
Martha E. Perry, 87, of Keokuk died at 12:25 p.m. Saturday, June 20, 2009, in Keokuk Area Hospital.
She was born on Jan. 19, 1922, in Novinger, Mo., the daughter to Othor M. and M. Ethel Traylor Perry.
She had lived in Keokuk since 1947. She attended elementary and high school in Novinger. She earned a bachelor's degree in education from Northeast Missouri State Teachers College in Kirksville, Mo., and her master's degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.
She was a member of All Saints Catholic Church, Pastoral Council, Ladies of All Saints, Questers and Church Women United. Martha served for the Civil Service, United Way Board, Foster Care Review Board and Safety Town Advisory Committee.
As an educator, she worked for two years in rural schools in Adair County, Mo., and three years as first grade teacher in Novinger. In Keokuk, she taught first grade at Jefferson School for six years and third grade at Washington Central for one year. She was elementary principal at Garfield and Torrence schools, and later Lincoln School, for a career spanning 20 years. She was instructional service coordinator at the time of her retirement in 1985.
She is survived by four nieces and a cousin.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Raphael Perry.
A memorial mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at All Saints Catholic Church, Keokuk, with the Rev. Paul Connolly officiating.
Burial is at 3 p.m. Saturday at Novinger Cemetery, with the Rev. Christopher Cordes officiating.
Visitation is Friday at Greaves Mortuary, Keokuk, with family meeting friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. There will be a Christian vigil service at 7:30 p.m.
Memorials may be made to All Saints Catholic Church, Keokuk Public Schools Foundation or the donor's choice.
Greaves Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Robert M. Ewing
Jan. 22, 1923 –– July 10, 2009
Robert M. Ewing, 86, of Keokuk died at 6:40 p.m. Friday, July 10, 2009, in Keokuk Area Hospital.
He was born on Jan. 22, 1923, in Rutledge, Mo., the son of John T. and Carrie Tull Ewing.
He married
Mildred Piersee on July 20, 1947, in the 12th Street Methodist Church, Keokuk. She survives.
He was in the United States Army during World War II, spending three years overseas, mostly in the South Pacific with the 854th Engineer Aviation Battalion.
He retired in 1988 from Keokuk Steel Castings after 35 years of employment.
He was a member of American Legion Post 41 of Keokuk. He was a 50-year member of Keokuk Lodge 29 A. F. & A. M. He also was a member of the Southside Boat Club and Trinity United Methodist Church.
Additional survivors include; two sons, Craig Ewing and his wife, Joyce, of Keokuk, and Stuart Ewing, also of Keokuk; a daughter, Diane Carlson and her husband, Tom, of Keokuk; six grandchildren, Tim Ewing and his wife, Stephanie, of Oak Harbor, Wash., Amie Waldemer of Mesa, Ariz., Chad Ewing of Colchester, Ill., Jason Ewing and Brett Carlson, both of Keokuk, and Douglas Ewing of Costa Mesa, Calif.; a stepgrandson, Christopher Summers, of Keokuk; a brother, Don Ewing of Florida; a sister-in-law, Leta Ewing of Rutledge; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a son, Douglas A. Ewing; four sisters, Arlene Anderson, Beverly Cohen, Madeline Hicks and Merline Witt; and a brother, Kenneth Ewing.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at DeJong’s Funeral Home, Keokuk, with the Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Dass officiating.
Burial with military rites will follow in Keokuk National Cemetery.
Visitation is from 11 a.m. until the time of services Tuesday at the funeral home.
William L. Varner
May 31, 1913 –– July 15, 2009
William L. Varner, 96, of Keokuk died Wednesday, July 15, 2009, at Lexington Square, Keokuk.
He was born on May 31, 1913 in Keokuk, the son of James and Margaret Long Varner.
He was first married
to Esther Cochenour Nye in 1935. On Aug. 1, 1953, he was united in marriage to Florence Stacy Handyside in Batesville, Ark. She preceded him in death on Aug. 12, 1994.
He had been employed at Keokuk Steel Castings for 35 years, retiring in 1975. Following his retirement, he worked at Keokuk Hy-Vee as a greeter for eight years until his 90th birthday.
He was a member of the Family Worship Center in Keokuk.
He enjoyed traveling and playing bingo.
He was a loving father and grandfather, and especially enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren.
Survivors include: three daughters, Kathleen Miller of St. Joseph, Mo., Elaine Brownlee and her husband, Ed, of Warsaw, Ill., and Blanche Knutdson and her husband, Ron, of Pueblo West, Colo.; three stepsons, Dwight Handyside and his wife, Pat, of Warsaw, Richard Handyside and his wife, Connie, of Wayland, Mo., and Mark Handyside of Hamilton, Ill.; a son-in-law, Jack Mortimer of Keokuk; 21 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by a daughter, Sharon Mortimer; a son, Larry Varner; two stepsons, Duane and Myron Handyside; four sisters, Helen, Grace, June and Neoma; and a half-brother, Charles Varner.
A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Hickory Grove Cemetery, rural Keokuk, with the Rev. Edward Lee Brownlee officiating.
Visitation is from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Monday at Vigen Memorial Home, Keokuk, with family meeting friends at that time.
