Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
Marjorie Grace Baker Fish, 1921-2003
Marjorie Grace Baker Fish died quietly in Minneapolis, Minn., on Nov. 24, 2003, at about 12:15 a.m. after a brief battle with cancer. She had been en route to Seattle with her son David to visit her daughter Diane. Her body has been donated to the University of Iowa College of Medicine. A memorial service is planned at the First United Methodist Church in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 10:30 a.m.
Marjorie Grace Baker was born on May 10, 1921, in Greene, Iowa, fourth and youngest child of Grace Terrill Baker and the Rev. Dr. Earle A. Baker. On Jan. 17, 1943, she was united in marriage to David Charles Fish, whom she had met during college. David had preceded her in death in 1983.
She was a graduate of Cedar Falls High School, had a bachelor's degree from Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa, graduating Phi Beta Kappa, and Master's and Specialist's degrees in Education from the University of Northern Iowa. She began her professional life as an English teacher. While her husband was a Master's student at Northwestern University in Elgin, Ill., she sold children's clothing from her home and took in ironing. After moving back to Cedar Falls she began selling silverware and china for Empire Craft Corporation as time permitted, gradually recruiting an extensive cadre of young housewives and becoming so successful her husband was convinced to join her in the business. In the early sixties Marjorie went back to teaching in the Waterloo Community Schools, and while working full time and caring for her family, she continued her education and earned her degrees from UNI. She finished a long career in 1985 as a guidance counselor at West Waterloo High School.
Throughout her life she was an avid reader who read all the popular fiction, enjoyed crossword puzzles, was an expert Scrabble player, and also enjoyed trying to teach her children proper English, almost to her last day, and much to their constant dismay. She enjoyed music, supporting the Waterloo Symphony through her attendance, and as a young woman was an excellent violin player, whose instrument had been made by her Uncle Joe Konvalinka from Mason City, who was also a gun maker. She was taught golf by both her husband and father and became so proficient as to win the Cedar Falls city championship at least once. She made a hole-in-one once, and continued to play the game even into the last year of her life, this past summer. Her last game was a best ball match with her sons and grandson, and they played even par for 18 with Marj making several critical par putts. In the mid sixties Marj and her husband helped build Beaver Hills Country Club as founding members. She also enjoyed playing bridge with her friends.
Marj was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a brother, the Rev. Dr. Richard T. Baker; and a sister, Ruth B. Thompson. She is survived by a sister, Beth B. Mast, of Bozeman, Mont. (recently of Davenport, Iowa); a daughter, Diane Priest of Seattle, Wash.; daughter and son-in-law, Marjo and John Lane of Alma, Colo.; son, David of Cedar Falls, Iowa; son and daughter-in-law, Donald and Janelle of Davenport, Iowa; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, notably Veronica Grace Steffener of Mediapolis, Iowa, who was born one-half hour after Marjorie passed away; and numerous nieces and nephews, and grandnieces and grandnephews widely dispersed. She will be greatly missed by all.
Frances M. Wilson (1915-2006)
CEDAR FALLS -- Frances M. Wilson, 91, formerly of 1205 Rainbow Drive, died Saturday, April 1, 2006, at the Cedar Falls Lutheran Home.
She was born March 28, 1915, in Pleasant Valley Township, Grundy County, daughter of Harry E. and Emma Pauline Doescher Wilson.
She graduated from Iowa State Teacher's College and taught school in Grundy County. She was then business manager of concessions in the Maucker Student Union on the UNI campus for more than 20 years, retiring in the late 1970s.
She was past president of the Cedar Falls Women's Club from 1985 to 1987.
Survived by: a sister, Jean (Leonard) Juhl of Cedar Falls.
Preceded in death by: three brothers, Robert, Kenneth and Ray Wilson.
Services: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the United Church of Christ, with burial in Greenwood Cemetery. Public visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Richardson Funeral Home, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m., and for an hour before services Tuesday at the church.
Memorials: may be directed to the Cedar Falls Lutheran Home or the church.
David J. Kelley (1972-2006)
WATERLOO -- David John Kelley, 33, of Waterloo, died Friday, March 31, 2006, at Covenant Medical Center of cancer.
He was born Dec. 30, 1972, in Waterloo, son of John M. and Marjorie Ann Priest Kelley. He married Angella Smith June 6, 1998, at Central Christian Church, Waterloo.
He attended Kingsley and Orange elementary, Hoover intermediate and was a 1991 graduate of West High. He attended Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, and then returned to Waterloo and began work with Martinson Construction.
In his spare time Dave loved to golf and do anything that included sports, watching or playing, both he loved.
Survived by: his wife; a daughter, Brooke; his parents, Dr. John and Marjorie Kelley of Waterloo; a sister, Shari (Steve) Hahn of Davenport; a brother, SFC Michael C. (Dione) Kelley of Lawton, Okla.; maternal grandmother, Wilma Priest; and many other relatives and friends.
Preceded in death by: his paternal grandparents, Clifton and Eleanor Kelley; and his maternal grandfather, Fredrick Priest.
Services: 10 a.m. Tuesday at Waterloo Worship Center, with burial in Waterloo Cemetery. Public visitation from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at Parrott and Wood Chapel of Memories, an Overton Family Service.
Memorials: may be directed to Waterloo Worship Center or to the family.
He will be deeply missed.
James A. Baker (1918-2006)
WATERLOO -- James A. Baker, 88, of Waterloo, died Thursday, March 30, 2006, at Covenant Medical Center of natural causes.
He was born Feb. 8, 1918, in Waterloo, son of Ralph and Cecil Quackenbush Baker. He married Irene Reagan July 2, 1939, in Waterloo. She died Aug. 6, 1998.
Mr. Baker worked at John Deere for 32 years, retiring in 1978, while working part time as a barber at Calkin's Barber Shop. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Survived by: a son, Leon (Sherry) of Waterloo; two daughters, Diane Graham of Waterloo and Debra (Stan) Savage of Denver; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; a brother, Bruce of Boise, Idaho; and a sister, Edna Stacy of Waterloo.
Preceded in death by: a brother, Clarence; and three sisters, Kathlyn Hile, Virginia Miller and Jean Gallagher.
Services: 10:30 a.m. Monday at Locke Funeral Home, with burial in the Garden of Memories Cemetery. Military rites will be conducted by American Legion Post 138 and VFW Post 1623. Public visitation from 3 to 6 p.m. today at the funeral home.
John W. Smock Jr. (1927-2006)
WATERLOO -- John W. Smock Jr., 78, of Waterloo, died at home Thursday, March 30, 2006.
He was born April 30, 1927, in Fayette, son of John and Hattie Smock. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served during the Korean Conflict. He was retired from John Deere.
Survivors include: five sons, Ronnie Tovar, Phil Tovar, David Tovar and John (Angie) Smock III, all of Waterloo, and Arty (RoseAnn) Tovar of Minnesota; four daughters, Leah (Mark) Patterson, Juanita Barbara, Doreen (Skip) Harper and Peggy (Pat) Dean, all of Waterloo; numerous grandchildren; a brother, Harold Smock of Wadena; a sister, Lillian Hughes of Cedar Rapids; and his special friend, Loretta Bearbower of Waterloo.
Preceded in death by: a son, Mark; two brothers, Rodney and Gordon; and a sister, Mary Benner.
Services: 1 p.m. Tuesday at Kearns, Huisman-Schumacher Chapel on Kimball, with burial in Garden of Memories Cemetery. Public visitation 4 to 8 p.m. Monday and for an hour before services Tuesday at the funeral home.
Memorials: may be directed to the family. Online condolences may be left at www.kearnsfuneralservice.com.
Barbara J. Augustson (1937-2006)
WATERLOO -- Barbara J. Augustson, 68, of Davenport, formerly of Waterloo, died Thursday, March 30, at Genesis Medical Center East Campus, Davenport.
She was born July 5, 1937, in Alta, daughter of Dale and Eleanora Jensen Back. She married Richard Dean Augustson on March 3, 1956, in Waterloo. He died in June 1967.
Survivors include: two daughters, Jeanne Ellen Agane of Wrentham, Mass., and Jennifer Kay (Michael Charles) Uher of Davenport; six grandchildren, Sophia Agane, Michael Uher II, Ayaan Agane, Yusef Agane, JoLynn Uher and Sarah Uher; a brother, Norman (Barbara) Beck of Sidney, Ohio; and a sister, Betty (Roland) Shelton of Greenville, S.C.
Preceded in death by: her parents; and an infant sister, Deborah Back.
Services: 10 a.m. Monday at Garden View Chapel, with burial in Garden of Memories Cemetery. Public visitation 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday and for an hour before services Monday at the chapel.
Memorials: may be directed to the family. Online condolences may be left at www.kearnsfuneralservice.com.
D. Arlene Nicoll (1928-2006)
CEDAR FALLS -- D. Arlene Nicoll, 77, of Cedar Falls, formerly of State Center, died Friday, March 31, at the Cedar Falls Lutheran Home.
She was born July 13, 1928, in Marshalltown, daughter of Raymond Stone and Delilah Marie Gibson Downs. She married Donald J. Nicoll on Oct. 1, 1950, in Mechanicsville. He died Sept. 7, 2001.
Survivors include: a son, Greg (Paula) of Cedar Falls; two grandchildren, Philip and Bethany Nicoll; and four sisters, Pauline Wier of Mesa, Ariz., Phyllis (Ed) Sayre of Plano, Texas, Thayes (Gene) Eldridge of Allen, Texas, and JoAnn (Dick) Daters of Melbourne.
Preceded in death by: her parents; two brothers, Raymond and Thomas Downs; and a sister, Dorothy Gifford.
Services: 10 a.m. Monday at the Cedar Falls Lutheran Home Chapel, with burial at 1 p.m. in Marietta Cemetery, rural Marshalltown. Public visitation 3 to 6 p.m. today at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home, and for an hour before services Monday at the Lutheran Home.
Memorials: may be directed to the Cedar Falls Lutheran Home or the family. Condolences may be left at www.dahlfuneralhome.com.
Richard E. McCarty (1927-2006)
WATERLOO -- Richard E. McCarty, 78, of Waterloo, died Friday, March 31, at Ravenwood Nursing and Rehab Center of natural causes.
He was born April 26, 1927, in English Township, son of Nelson and Dona Schly McCarty. He married Pauline I. McVey Dec. 30, 1945, in Troy, Kan. She preceded him in death Oct. 8, 2004.
Mr. McCarty served in the U.S. Army during World War II overseas in Germany. He was employed by Hedfords and Hitchins Bros. in Waterloo for 35 years then worked at Shellsburg Cheese Factory, Shellsburg, Wis., until his retirement.
Richard enjoyed flowers, woodworking and making toys for his grandchildren.
Survived by: five sons, Larry (Linda) of Lake Villa, Ill., Mike (Sheila) of Dixon, Ill., Rick of Waterloo, Nelson (Linda) of Cedar Falls and Todd (Kathi) of Kenosha, Wis.; a daughter, Kaye McCarty of Waterloo; 19 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; a brother, Don of Waterloo; and a sister, Dorothy Ellenwood of Burlington.
Preceded in death by: his parents; his loving wife, Pauline; and three sisters, Judy Montgomery, Susie Comstock and Patricia Larson.
Services: 1 p.m. Wednesday at Parrott and Wood Chapel of Memories, with burial in the Garden of Memories. Military rites will be conducted by Becker-Chapman American Legion Post 138 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1623. Public visitation from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday and for an hour before services Wednesday at the funeral home.
Memorials: may be directed to Cedar Valley Hospice.
Richard will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
James A. Farmer Sr. (1922-2006)
WATERLOO -- Rev. James A. Farmer Sr., 83, of Ravenwood Nursing and Rehab Center, died Saturday, March 25, at the care center of natural causes.
He was born June 7, 1922, in Helena, Ark., son of John and Hester Mayfield Farmer. He married Laura Lee Rhodes in Waterloo, and she preceded him in death Oct. 22, 2005.
He was formerly employed at the John Deere Waterloo Tractor Works. He served in the U.S. Army as a buffalo soldier.
Survived by: three sons, James Jr. of Fort Worth, Texas, Howard of Cedar Rapids and Tommy of Waterloo; a daughter, Gloria Farmer of Waterloo; 15 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two brothers, John (Betsy) of Dothan, Ala., and Percy (Dorothy) of Tampa, Fla.; and three sisters, Gloria Wells, Clarice (Henry) Duval and Evelyn Farmer, all of Kankakee, Ill.
Services: noon Tuesday at Antioch Baptist Church, with burial in the Garden of Memories Cemetery. Military rites will be conducted at the church by American Legion Post 138 and VFW 1623. Public visitation from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday at Sanders Funeral Service.
Memorials: may be directed to the church.
