Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
Ruth I. Ralya
Dec. 24, 1924 - May 26, 2009
Ruth I. Ralya, 84, of Keokuk died Tuesday, May 26, 2009, in the Ozark Riverview Manor, Ozark, Mo.
She was born on Dec. 24, 1924, in Sioux City, the daughter of Edwin and Tressie (Liston) Rochester.
She was married
for 62 years to her loving husband Earl. He preceded her in death.
Ruth enjoyed gardening, dancing, golfing and fishing. Most of all she enjoyed her family. She owned and operated Jack and Jill Nursery School for 13 years in Keokuk. Ruth also was active in the Keokuk Elks Lodge.
She and Earl lived at Heritage Lake in Indiana for nearly 20 years. Ruth truly enjoyed life and lived it to the fullest.
Survivors include: two sons, Tom and his wife, Jackie, and Lee and his wife, Gail; two daughters, Rita O'Brien and Tressa and her husband, Steve Reisetter; 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren and one due in November; and a brother, Jim Rochester and his wife, Dee.
She also was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Betty Lafferty; and a brother, Ed Rochester.
A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Monday, June 15, in the Klingner-Cope Family Funeral Home at Rivermonte Chapel, 4500 S. Lone Pine, Springfield, Mo.
Burial will follow in the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery, 5201 S. Southwood Rd., Springfield, MO.
Memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Association, 225 Michigan Ave., F1 17, Chicago, IL 60601
James Robert ‘Brad’ Bradfield
Aug. 5, 1932 - Nov. 2, 2008
MESA, Ariz. -- James Robert “Brad” Bradfield, 76, known for having a twinkle in his eye, passed away Nov. 2, 2008, in Mesa, Ariz., of leukemia.
He was born on Aug. 5, 1932, the son of Elzie and Margaret Bradfield of Warsaw, Ill.
He graduated from Warsaw High School in 1950. He served in the Korean War. He attended Quincy College, Quincy, Ill., and graduated from Western Illinois University, Macomb, in 1955.
He married
Ann Watkins of Denver, Colo., where they raised their two children.
Having an eye for beauty and being a meticulous handyman/ contractor, Jim was employed by Desks, Inc. of Denver, Colo., and later employed as a designer of office and commercial spaces.
He enjoyed retirement in Mesa as a golf course marshal, sharing his last years with Marilyn Trad and her children.
Survivors include: a son, Tom of Denver; a daughter, Lynn, and son-in-law, Mark Schorn and granddaughter, Tess, of Kingston, Wash.; two sisters, Joan Salerno of Omaha, Neb., and Peggy (Harry) Flynn of Fredericksburg, Va.; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A memorial mass and celebration of life service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 12, in Sacred Heart Church, Warsaw, with Father Richard Barclift officiating.
Burial of ashes will follow in Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw, with full military honors.
Herbert G. Evans
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Herbert G. Evans, 85, of Peoria, Ariz., died Jan. 31, 2009.
Graveside memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Greenglade Cemetery, Farmington.
Schmitz-Lynk Funeral Home and Crematory, Farmington, is assisting the family with arrangements.
Kathryn Jean Kindelspire
May 1, 1911 - May 24, 2009
PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Kathryn Jean Kindelspire, 98, formerly of Keokuk, died Sunday, May 24, 2009, in Phoenix, Ariz.
She was born on May 1, 1911, in Leola, S.D., the daughter of John and Frances (Kelly) Hord.
She has lived in Arizona for the last 36 years.
Before retiring in 1962, she worked for Dryden Rubber in Keokuk.
She touched many hearts and lives and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Survivors include: her daughters, Jean Runge and Mrs. Ron (Joan) Acker; a sister, Mrs. Byron (Margaret) Kindelspire of Leola; 12 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and 25 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her grandson, Doug Acker; a sister, Mary 'Aunt' Hord; two brothers, Bill and Paul Hord; and a son-in-law, Al Runge.
Mass will be at 9 a.m. Thursday, June 11, at St. Luke's Catholic Church, 19644 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix.
Burial will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, 10045 W. Thomas Road, Avondale, Ariz.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014.
Arrangements are by Hansen Mortuary, Phoenix.
Sgt. Levi A. Gundy
June 9, 1986 -- May 31, 2009
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. -- Sgt. Levi A. Gundy, 22, of Jacksonville, N.C., formerly of Keokuk, died Sunday, May 31, 2009, in Jacksonville, as the result of an automobile accident.
He was born on June 9, 1986, in Keokuk, the son of Robert and Betsy Gardine Gundy.
He was united in marriage to Mallory Vandershans on April 15, 2009. She survives.
Additional survivors include: his father, Robert “Bob” Gundy of Keokuk; his mother, Betsy Gundy of Montrose; two brothers, Mark Gundy and his wife, Donna, and Troy Gundy and his wife, Alicia “Lou,” all of Keokuk; three sisters, Mindy Gundy and Tashia Gundy, both of Keokuk, and Cecilee Maestro and her husband, Pedro, of Fort Madison; his maternal grandfather, Guy Gardine of Memphis, Mo.; five aunts, Kathy Meyers and her husband, Randy, of Hot Springs, S.D., JoBeth Harvey and her husband, Darrell, of Memphis, Joann Whitmore and her husband, Jim, of Montrose, Ruth Ann Scott of Quincy, Ill., and Joan Huston and her husband, Rick, of Keokuk; an uncle, David Gardine of Gladstone, Mo.; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Hildred Gardine; his paternal grandparents, Harry and Joyce Gundy and Robert and Edwina Whiteside; two aunts, Becky McMinn and Nancy Riddle; and two uncles, Junior Scott and R.G. Whiteside.
He graduated from Central Lee High School, Donnellson, with the Class of 2004.
He enlisted in the United States Marines following his graduation.
Sgt. Gundy was serving in the United States Marine Corps, stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C. He had served in Okinawa, Japan, Korea, Thailand and Iraq. During his first deployment to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, he served as an engineer team leader and was promoted to the rank of corporal in June 2006. During his second deployment supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, he received a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his service as an engineer squad leader. He was then promoted to the rank of sergeant in November 2007 during combat operations. In July 2008, he reported to Marine Wing Support Squadron 272, Marine Wing Support Group 27, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, New River, N.C., to serve as the assistant team leader of the construction platoon. He was a Combat Engineer Non Commissioned Officer, graduating in April 2009.
He was a member of New Testament Christian Church in Keokuk.
He had been a member of FFA while in high school. Levi enjoyed hunting, fishing, riding bulls and hanging out with his friends and family.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at New Testament Christian Church, with Brother Bill Hauser officiating.
Burial will be in Keokuk National Cemetery, with military rites.
Visitation is after 1 p.m. Sunday at Vigen Memorial Home, Keokuk, with family meeting friends from 3 to 6 p.m.
Memorials may be made to the Central Lee High School FFA.
Clester Wm. Graham
Jan. 2, 1947 – June 1, 2009
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Clester Wm. Graham, 62, formerly of Keokuk, died Monday, June 1, 2009, in Portland, Ore.
He was born on Jan. 2, 1947, in Keokuk, the son of Clester D. Graham and Jeannette Bresnahan Graham.
He married
Sandy Smith on Aug. 5, 1989. She survives in Portland.
Additional survivors include: his father of Kahoka, Mo.; two sons, Clester Graham and his wife, Joann of Fairfield and Jamie Graham of Portland; three stepchildren, Teresa Mervin, Mrs. Gary (Heather) Swedlund and Derrik Morris and his wife, Leah, all of Portland; nine brothers, Joseph Graham and his wife, Elma, Jens Graham and his wife, Jane, Jeff Graham and his wife, Tara, and Jim Graham, all of Healy, Alaska, Jon Graham and his wife, Dorma, and Pat Graham, all of Keokuk, Shawn Ralph Graham of Kahoka, Michael Graham of Phoenix, Ariz., and Tim Graham, serving in the United States Army and stationed in Iraq; three sisters, Mrs. Gerald (Ann) Hamelton of Keokuk, Mrs. Ron (Mary Jo) Clark of Healy, and Mrs. Tony (Celeste) Winsor of Anchorage, Alaska; five grandchildren; five stepgrandchildren; a stepgreat-grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother.
Cles loved his family dearly and especially enjoyed his grandchildren. He also enjoyed singing, painting, boating, cooking, good conversation and his loyal pets.
He touched many hearts and lives and will be dearly missed by all who loved him.
A memorial service was held Tuesday in Portland, with Pastor Mike Davis officiating.
Cremation rites have been accorded.
Jennifer Dawson
Visitation: Date/Time September 7, 1999 / 12:00 PM
Location: 2296 Carver Dr. NW, Atlanta, GA
Jennifer Dawson expired this life on Sept. 7, 1999 in her home.
Jennifer was survived by a husband Ahmad Rashad Dawson, two daughters Shamaya and Shamad Dawson and one son Mekhi Dawson.
The wake and viewing of the body will be a Meadows Funeral Home on Sept. 10, 1999 at 1:00 p.m.
The sevices will be held at Dixie Hills First Baptist Church on Sept. 11, 1999.
