Helen Stearns
Helen Lucille Stearns, daughter of Leo Preston and Lela Hadley Howe, was born Feb. 29, 1924, in Osceola and died at her home in Des Moines on Oct. 6, 2003. She was 79.
She graduated from Osceola High School as salutatorian of the graduating class of 1942. She taught in the Jamison country school in Clarke County and later she was a teacher in Warren County.
She married Earnest Edwin Stearns on Jan. 26, 1945, in Princeton, Mo. and they became the parents of three children. Mrs. Stearns worked as a bookkeeper for Robinson’s Department Store in Osceola for 23 years. She married James Nuzum on June 23, 1998.
Mrs. Stearns was preceded in death by her husband, Earnest; her parents; three sisters, Donna Marie Howe, Marilyn Conklin and Pauline Durr; and two brothers, Marvin Howe and Loren Howe.
She is survived by her husband, James Nuzum of Des Moines; two daughters, Norma Jean Oliver and her husband, Dean Oliver, of Hiram, Ga. and Janice Elaine Gray and her husband, Bill Gray, of Des Moines; a son, Joseph Edwin Stearns and his wife, Beth Stearns, of Lacona; a sister, Geraldine Smith of Lacona; ten grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews and friends.
Services were Oct. 9 at Union Park Christian Church. Burial was in the Woodburn Cemetery.
ETHEL PICKEN BATES
Ethel Picken Bates, daughter of Samuel M. Porter and Sadie Leggett Porter, was born Nov. 11, 1905, in Madison County and died Oct. 14, 1998, at Care Center South in Winterset. She was 92.
She graduated from Truro High School in 1924 and attended college for two years. A teacher from 1955 to 1964, Mrs. Bates held positions at Bradyville, Underwood and Truro.
She married Clyde H. Picken in 1927 and they became the parents of two sons, Gilbert and Roger. The family lived in Madison County near Peru until Mr. Picken died in 1955.
She married James E. Bates in 1962 and they lived on a farm north of Murray until he died in 1979 and she moved to Winterset.
Mrs. Bates was a member of Deer Creek Church in Madison County.
She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Claude Porter, Merrill Porter, Ralph Porter and Fon Porter and a sister, Rena Goodell.
Surviving Mrs. Bates are her two sons, Gilbert Picken and his wife, Joyce Picken, of Fairmont, Minn. and Roger Picken and his wife, Beverly Picken, of Omaha, Neb.; a stepson, James D. Bates of Rogers, Ark.; a stepdaughter, Gladys Schellhorn of Waterloo; a sister, Nellie Parker and her husband, Ward Parker, of Truro; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two great-stepgrandchildren; four sisters-in-law, Dorothy Porter, Thelma Porter, Roberta Porter and Jean Porter; other relatives and a host of friends.
Services for Mrs. Bates were Oct. 16 at Kale Funeral Home in Truro, Pastor Rob Porter officiating. Organist Doris Johnson accompanied vocalists Tim Porter and Steve Porter as they sang Abide With Me and Beyond the Sunset.
Casket bearers were Dan Parker, Steve Porter, Tim Knapp, Tim Porter and Arthur Chittenden. Interment was in St. Charles Cemetery at St. Charles.
PHILLIP EDWARD PATRICK
Phillip Edward Patrick, son of Benjamin Clifford and Jessie Darlene Hodges Patrick, was born Jan. 3, 1926, at Tabor and died Oct. 16, 1998, at his home in Osceola. He was 72.
He graduated from Oscoela High School and then attended Simpson College in Indianola and the University of Denver where he received a bachelor of arts degree. A veteran of World War II, Mr. Patrick served with the U.S. Army Air Corps.
He married Guyla Harsh on Aug. 29, 1948, at the United Methodist Church in Osceola and they became the parents of three children, Terry, DeeAnn and Phillip Jr. They celebrated 50 years of marriage in August of this year.
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick have lived in Osceola for the past 28 years and owned and operated Pepco Material Handling Company.
Mr. Patrick was an avid golfer when his health permitted and was a member of the Osceola Country Club, Davis Pence American Legion Post No. 69 and the United Methodist Church in Osceola.
He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son Phillip Jr. in July of this year; a brother, Alfred Patrick; a daughter-in-law, Mary Jo Patrick and father-in-law, Delbert Harsh.
Mr. Patrick is survived by his wife, Guyla of Osceola; a son Terry Patrick and his wife, Denise Patrick, of Denver, Colo.; a daughter, DeeAnn Boswell and her husband, Randy Boswell, of Des Moines; seven grandchildren; mother-in-law, Helen Harsh of Osceola; sister-in-law, Bessie Patrick of Osceola; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Jim Harsh and his wife, Beth Harsh, of Okaloosa and Margaret Harris and her husband, Doyle Harris, of Iowa City; as well as other relatives and a host of friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Patrick were Oct. 20 at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola, the Rev. James Louk officiating. Organist Pennie Gonseth accompanied Emil Rinderspacher as he sang Amazing Grace and I’ll Walk With God. Simpson student, Corey Bix, sang the Lord’s Prayer. He was accompanied by organist, Dorothy Hecht, also a Simpson student.
Casket bearers were Dick Murphy, Tom Harsh, Josh Patrick, David Lynn, Jim Harsh and Tyler Patrick. Interment was in Maple Hill Cemetery at Osceola.
HARRY LOYD SMITH
Harry Loyd Smith, son of Robert J. and Elva Leona Boswell Smith, was born Sept. 17, 1916, in Lamoni and died at his home in Osceola on Oct. 14, 1998, as the result of a heart attack. He was 82.
Mr. Smith was educated in the country schools near Lamoni and married Oma Warren on March 9, 1940, in Lamoni. The couple became the parents of two children, Dianna and Donna.
Mr. Smith, a farmer all of his life, farmed with horses until 1947. He worked at the Lamoni sale barn for 10 years and also was a substitute school bus driver. He retired in 1979 and moved to Osceola but moved back to the farm in 1986 and remained there unitl 1990 when he moved back to Osceola.
He was a member of the First Christian Church in Osceola.
Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Joe, Bert and Mike Smith; three sisters, Laura Zigler, Helen Bennett and Mabel Wadley.
He is survived by his wife Oma of Osceola; two daughters, Dianna Parker and her husband, Rick Parker, of Indianola and Donna White and her husband, Randy White, of Dexter; three grandchildren, Pat Parker and his wife, Melanie Parker, Bob Parker and his wife, Jenny Parker and Christina Smith; four great-grandchildren, Jessica and Lane Parker, Brittany Johnson and Nicholas Parker; two brothers, Clifford Smith of Cedar Rapids and Albert Smith of Junction City, Ore.; three sisters, Eunice Zigler of Bagley, Minn. Nellie Umphress of Salem, Ore. and Myrtle Loomis of Creston; other relatives and a host of friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Smith were Oct. 17 at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola, the Rev. Fred Rohlfs officiating. Organist Pennie Gonseth accompanied soloist Emil Rinderspacher as he sang In the Garden and Good Night and Good Morning.
Casket bearers were Marvin Craig, Harold Barcus, Jerry Johnson, Allen Miller, Oral Eddy and Gene Gibbs. Honorary bearers were Danny Cherington, Ivan Gibbs, John Luce and H.R. Hale. Interment was in Maple Hill Cemetery at Osceola.
REGNA GRACE RUSSELL
Regna Grace Russell, the daughter of Elmer Ellis and Flora Bellon Culbertson, was born Aug. 24, 1910, in Hall County in Nebraska and died Oct. 4, 1998, at the Clarke County Hospital in Osceola. She was 88.
She lived all of her life in Wayne, Lucas and Clarke Counties and married Fred Russell on July 19, 1941, in Bethany, Mo.
Mrs. Russell was a nurse’s aide at the Harken Hospital in Osceola.
She was a member of the Fremont Methodist Church and the Osceola Eagles Lodge No. 3495.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son, Rex Griffin; five brothers, Ardrys Culbertson, A.J. Culbertson, Hubert Culbertson and Everette and Raymond Culbertson, both killed during World War II: stepdaughter, Mavis Morrison and stepgrandson, Kenneth Morrison.
Mrs. Russell is survived a daughter, Norma Ashby and her husband, Marion Ashby, of Osceola; a sister, Louise McCloney and her husband, Russell McCloney, of Osceola; three granddaughters, Linda Griffin of Leon and Cindy Downing and her husband, Ron Downing and Susan Reasby, all of Des Moines; a grandson, Brad Ashby and his wife, Jane Ashby, of Omaha, Neb.; four stepgrandchildren, Jerry Bates and his wife, Becky Bates and Robin Gerard and her husband, Paul Gerard, of Lake Whales, Fla., Eileene Morrison of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and Brian Ashby and his wife, Heidi Ashby, of Tucson, Ariz. 12 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Services for Mrs. Russell were Oct. 7 at Samuelson Funeral Home, Pastor Marty Burgus officiating. Organist Donna Sloan accompanied Lynne Samuelson as she sang In the Garden and The Old Rugged Cross.
Casket bearers were Gene Snodgrass, Rod Culbertson, Glen Culbertson, Bob McCloney and Duane Dickey. Honorary bearers were Guy Stalter, Harold Culbertson, Gerald Halferty, Jerry Porter and Roger DeBok.
Interment was in Maple Hill Cemetery at Osceola.
Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society and Osceola Senior Social Center.
ROBERT PAUL "BOB" SMART
Robert Paul “Bob” Smart, son of William Dryden and Viola Kritenbrink Smart, was born Jan. 18, 1928, in Creston and died Oct. 3, 1998, at his home in Osceola. He was 70.
Mr. Smart graduated from Murray High School in 1946. He married Janice Carolyn Hays on Dec. 13, 1956, in Grant City, Mo. The couple became the parents of three children, Michele, Scott and Patricia.
He retired in 1986 after working at the Natural Gas Pipeline in Truro for 35 years. He was a member of the Osceola Masonic Lodge No.77 in Osceola and had been a member of the Ivy Lodge No. 483 in Truro. He had been a resident of Osceola for 36 years.
Mr. Smart enjoyed hunting, fishing, attending ball games and being with his hunting dogs.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Mr. Smart is survived by his wife, Janice Smart of Osceola; two daughters, Michele Smart and Patricia Smart of Rochester, Minn.; a son, Scott Smart and his wife, Nancy Fisher, of Osceola; a grandson, Dan Fisher of Osceola; two sisters, Alice Proctor and her husband, Eldon Proctor, of Osceola and Ellen Selim of Creston and two brothers, Kenneth Smart and his wife, Anne Smart, of Salina, Calif. and William Smart Jr. of Des Moines.
Services were Oct. 6, 1998, at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola with the Rev. Bill Kerns of Chariton officiating. Organist Kathy Schafer played and sang Gentle Shepherd and On Eagles Wings. Masonic Services were performed by the Osceola Lodge No. 77 A.F.?.M.
Casket Bearers were Tim Nelson, Scot Wilken, Craig Stephenson, Jeff Smart, Jeff Wilken and Shawn Clarke. Interment was in Maple Hill Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Osceola Masonic Lodge No. 77.
Cleo Brown
Cleo May Goucher Brown, 88, of Osceola, daughter of Benjamin Harrison and Hattie May Harvey Goucher, was born May 3, 1914, in Bethany, Mo. and died Oct. 18, 2002, at Clarke County Hospital in Osceola.
Her mother died when she was five. She lived with her grandparents until her grandmother died and she went to live with her father in St. Joseph, Mo. She and her father moved back to Bethany and then moved to Iowa where she spent some time with an aunt.
She married Arnold Jesse Brown on May 3, 1935. The couple were the parents of a son, Larry Dean.
Mrs. Brown spent her married life in Decatur County except for 11 years in Clarke County.
When Mrs. Brown lived at Grand River she belonged to the 4G Club. and the Lacelle Social Club and Get-To-Gether. She had been a member of Neighborly Neighbors since 1953.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Gretchen June Goucher at age 11, a son in 1989 and her husband in 1991.
Survivors are her husband’s nieces and nephews; a number of cousins and her friends.
Funeral services were Oct. 22, at Slade-O’Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, Pastor Dennis Munyon officiating. Organist and vocalist was Charletta Durrell. Musical selections were How Great Thou Art and Old Rugged Cross.
Casket bearers were Dale Brown, Gene Brown, Harold Brown, John Brown, Lieu Brown, Max Brown, Ronnie Brown, Ron Stark and Clate Vanderpool. Interment was in the Grand River Cemetery.
Merle Duane Patterson
Merle Duane Patterson, son of Claude Patterson and Pauline Woods Patterson, was born Aug. 1, 1934, in Osceola and died Oct. 16, 2002, in Winterset. He was 68.
He grew up in Osceola and at 14 moved with his family to the farm. He graduated from Osceola High School in 1952. He lived all of his life in Clarke County.
He married Mary Ann Travis on Nov. 23, 1958, in Winterset and they became the parents of three daughters, Shelly, Melanie and Stacey.
Mr. Patterson was in 4-H and FFA as a youth. He was a member of the Osceola Eagles Lodge Aerie No. 3495. He served on the Clarke County Election Board for 24 years and was a trustee in Ward Township in Clarke County for 22 years. He attended the First Christian Church in Osceola.
From the time he was a young man, Mr. Patterson developed a lifelong interest in the cattle business which led to many friendships. He also enjoyed boating which led him to purchase a lot at Sun Valley Lake. This became the focal point for entertaining family and friends over the years. He also enjoyed traveling. Mr. Patterson acted as the resident “tour director” when visiting friends and relatives across the country. He was fond of watching car races and restoring antique tractors.
He was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents, three uncles, Laurel B. Woods, Lester Woods and Alvin Woods; and five aunts, Lucille Mullen, Lillie Miller, Nellie Cochran, Mary Davis and Mildred Plummer.
Mr. Patterson is survived by his three daughters, Shelly Granfield and her husband, Rick Grandfield, of Lorimor, Melanie Bohle and her husband, Keith Bohle, of Kingsley and Stacey Lowe and her husband, Clayton Lowe, of Winterset; four grandchildren, Jessica, Christopher and Nicholas Grandfield of Lorimor and Sydney Lowe of Winterset; his parents, Claude and Pauline Patterson of Osceola; a sister, Myrna Newkirk and her husband, Jim Newkirk, of Hendersonville, N.C.; other relatives and a host of friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Patterson were Oct. 19 at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola, Pastor Marty Burgus officiating. Organists were Pennie Gonseth and Jessica Grandfield. Soloist Linda Bachman sang Hymn of Promise and How Great Thou Art.
Casket bearers were Don Byerly, Gene Barnard, Orlin Moran, Derschel Pennock, Warren Bachman, Ron Kerr and Wayne Linger. Honorary bearers were Jim Emary, Ron Henry, Steve Moser, Marvin Oder, Kenny Blair and Beryl Kendall. Interment was in Maple Hill Cemetery at Osceola.
Memorial contributions may be made to Middle River Hospice, Leukemia and Lymphomia Foundation or the new Clarke County fairgrounds.
Leo C. Richardson
Leo Clarence Richardson, son of Carl Everett Richardson and Hester Marie Woosley Richardson, was born Sept. 6, 1924, in Clarke County and died Oct. 15, 2002, at West View Care Center in Indianola. He was 78.
Mr. Richardson grew up in Clarke County and attended Clarke County Schools. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
He married Shirley Nina Dusenbury on April 13, 1948, in Murray and they became the parents of two children, Linda and Vickie; Shirley Richardson died Dec. 1, 1975. He married Daisy Lea Verett on Oct. 14, 1981 in Osceola.
Mr. Richardson was a truck driver. He lived in Clarke County until 1985 when he moved to Garden Grove. He moved to Greenfield, Mo. in 1996 and then to Indianola June 1 of this year. He was a member of the Osceola Veterans of Foreign Wars, Davis-Pence Post No. 69 of the American Legion, the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Aerie 3495 and the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Osceola.
He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife; a daughter, Vickie Graham; an infant sister; brother, Everett and an infant grandson.
He is survived by his wife of Indianola; a daughter, Linda Avey and her husband, Larry Avey, of Greenfield, Mo.; son-in-law, Donnie Graham of Garden Grove; two stepsons, Bob Chaffin and his wife, Cora Chaffin, of Winston, Ore. and David Marshall and his wife, Gail Marshall of Winterset; two stepdaughters, Debra Bunch of Indianola and Denise Pinon and her husband, Louis Pinon, of Huntsville, Ark.; 19 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; a brother, Wayne Richardson and his wife, Shirley Richardson, of Norwalk; a sister-in-law, Doris Linder and her husband, Bernard Linder, of Osceola; several nieces and nephews; other relatives and a host of friends.
Graveside services for Mr. Richardson and interment of the cremains were Oct. 1 in Union Cemetery in Clarke County. Pastor Dale Dorrell of Indianola officiated.
Arrangements were made by Kale Funeral Home in Osceola.
Raymond C. Rider
Raymond Carlos Rider, only child of Carl and Della Gossemeyer Rider, was born Dec. 12, 1922, at Thayer and died Oct. 17, 2002, at his home in Murray. He was 79.
He graduated from Thayer High School in 1940. He married Elberta May Booth on Jan. 10, 1942, in Grant City, Mo. The couple became the parents of two sons, Steven and Fred.
He entered the U.S. Army in 1943 and served his country until November 1945. After military service he farmed on his father’s farm until he bought his own farm in 1956. He moved from the family farm and worked in construction in 1969. He started his own construction business and retired in 1983.
He was a member of William-Lochrie Post No. 405 in Murray; V. F.W. in Creston and a local dinner club in Murray. He served on the Thayer school board for many years and was a member of the Clarke County Sheriff’s Posse. He was affiliated with the Murray United Methodist Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Rider spent their winters for 20 years at a retirement park in Texas. He was an outdoorsman and active and ambitious until about a year ago when his health started to fail.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Mr. Rider is survived by his wife in Murray; two sons, Steven Rider and his wife, Sherree Rider of Lompoc, Calif. and Fred Rider and his wife, Joyce Rider, of Murray; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; other relatives and a host of friends.
Memorial services for Mr. Rider were held Oct. 21 at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola, the Rev. John Tunnicliff of Murray officiating. Organist Pennie Gonseth accompanied soloist Dennis Jeter as he sang September Song.
Honorary casket bearers were Duane Johnson, Jack Dobberthien, Brad Rice, Larry Rohr, Clarence Orfield, Charles Landreth, Leonard Siefkas, Max Fenn, Curtis Burgus, Ronnie Maffett, Mark Johnson, Earl Cook and Basil Willett. Interment of the cremains was in the Murray Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Murray United Methodist Church or the William Lochrie Post No. 405 of the American Legion in Murray.
Arrangements were made by Kale Funeral Home in Osceola.
John "Oscar" Sharp
John “Oscar” Sharp, the son and youngest of 11 children of Alexander Allen Sharp and Sally Ann Grable Sharp, was born July 20, 1911, in Parnell, Mo. and died Oct. 16, 2002, at the Extended Care Unit of the Clarke County Hospital in Osceola. He was 91.
The family moved to Taylor County where Oscar attended rural school. He married Pauline Johnson on Feb. 25, 1932, in Maryville Mo. The couple raised a daughter and two sons while farming in the Conway area. They moved to Bedford and lived there until 1997 when they moved Osceola.
Mr. Sharp was a hardworking successful farmer who began farming with horses and advanced to modern machinery, always keeping pace with the times. He was a member of the Conway school board and served as an usher and deacon for the First Baptist Church in Bedford where he was a member for more than 70 years.
Mr. and Mrs. Sharp spent the winter months in Texas for 18 years and enjoyed traveling. After an accident in 1995, which resulted in a broken neck, Mr. Sharp was forced into retirement. He remained outgoing and enjoyed life. Family was always important to him. He and Mrs. Sharp opened their home to Carlos, a boy from Nicaragua for two years. David Runyan lived with them for a time and they also had others stay with them for other periods of time. Mr. Sharp took great pride in his children, grandchildren and has held all five of his great-grandchildren.
After Mrs. Sharp’s death in 2000 he moved into the extended care unit of the hospital in Osceola and quickly became a favorite of all the nurses and workers. Although Mr. Sharp was mourning his wife’s death he took and active interest in daily events, attending his great-grandson’s ball games, family get-to-gethers and visiting by phone with distant friends and family.
He was preceded in death by by his wife in 2000; his parents; a daughter, Betty Lou Reed in 1989; a son, William Allen, in 1993; his brothers, Earnest, Roy, Luther, George and Edward and his sisters, Addie Million, Mary Wright, Lillie Burks, Mable Mahan and Susie Souders.
Mr. Sharp is survived by a son, John Sharp and his wife, Kathy Sharp, of Osceola; a daughter-in-law, Marilyn Sharp of Bedford; seven grandchildren, Elizabeth Luebke of California, Grace Anne Reed of Dubuque, David Sharp of Ames, Sandra Risser and Richard Sharp, both of Bedford, Tamela Kirkpatrick of Osceola, John Paul Sharp of Norwalk; and five great-grandchildren and nephews and nieces.
Services for Mr. Sharp were Oct. 19 at the First Baptist Church in Bedford with Pastors Jamie Mogler and Ted DeHass officiating. Interment was in the Fairview Cemetery in Bedford. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church in Bedford.
Ritchie Funeral Home in Bedford was in charge of arrangements.
Marvin Boyd
Marvin Boyd, son of William S. Boyd and Cecil L. Kent Boyd, was born Oct. 7, 1934, in Lucas and died of cardiac arrest Oct. 19, 2001, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. He was 67.
He lived in Lucas and Chariton all of his life. He married Mary Hoffman in 1951, in Chariton.
Mr. Boyd worked for Johnson Machine Works in Chariton. He had also worked for Chariton Wholesale Grocery (Hy-Vee), PYA Monarch Food Service in Des Moines, Hawkeye Food Service in Iowa City and L’AMY Eyewear headquartered in Paris, France.
Preceding him in death were his parents; two brothers, Edwin K and Jerry B. and a son, Larry K.
Mr. Boyd is survived by his wife, Mary Boyd of Chariton; four sons, Dennis Boyd of Tulsa, Okla., Kurt Boyd of Scottsdale, Ariz., Ron Boyd of Plymouth, Minn. and Steve Boyd of Urbandale; seven grandchildren; a brother, Jack Boyd of Lucas; a sister, Sharon Ward of Henderson, Nev.; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were Oct. 22 at Fielding Funeral home in Chariton. Interment was in Chariton Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lucas County Conservation Board and Pheasants Forever.
Vicki May Mitchell Chaney
Vicki May Mitchell Chaney, daughter of Victor Leo and Charlotte Marie Dudley Barnett, was born Oct. 14, 1940, in Wapello County and died of cancer Oct. 16, 2001, at Clarke County Hospital in Osceola. She was 61.
She received her education in Wapello County and graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1958. She married Richard “Dick” R. Mitchell on Nov. 8, 1958, in Ottumwa. They became the parents of three children, Dennis, Dana and Michelle.
Mrs. Chaney lived in Ottumwa and Afton before she moved to Osceola in 1978.
She became a Wausau Homes Dealer in 1977, completing her Iowa Real Estate License in 1978. She operated Mitchell Homes in Osceola until 1981. She completed many seminars and workshops through the years that she operated Mitchell Homes.
Mrs. Chaney owned and operated Mitch-ell Misc., a consignment shop in Osceola, for the past several years.
She was involved in many civic and professional organizations including the Ottumwa Jayceettes where as a member she held all of the offices and received several awards for outstanding accomplishments. She was also a member of the Osceola Firemen’s Auxiliary and a past president and secretary/treasurer of the group as well as the Osceola Eagles Auxiliary.
She was honored to receive the Governor’s Volunteer Award in 1987 and had been named Outstanding Young Woman of Iowa in 1972.
She was introduced to some of these organizations by Lyle Chaney, who courted her for more than 13 years before they were married on Dec. 2, 1992, at the First Christian Church in Osceola.
They enjoyed many good times together through the years, but their vacations to the Ozarks, Texas and California and a special cruise, stand out the most.
Preceding her in death were her first husband, Dick Mitchell in 1978 and her father, Victor L. Barnett in 1985.
Survivors include her husband, Lyle Chaney of Osceola; a son, Dennis D. Mitchell and his wife, Vickie Mitchell, of Osceola; two daughters, Dana D. Mitchell of Des Moines and Michelle L. Kennedy and her husband, Kevin Kennedy, of Rock Port, Mo.; six grandchildren, Jessica Davidson Mitchell, Christopher Mitchell and Tiffany McKnight of Osceola, Spencer and Elliot Mitchell of Des Moines and Rayanne Kennedy of Rock Port; her mother, Charlotte M. Barnett of Des Moines; a sister, Pam Meredith and her husband, Jim Meredith, of Independence, Mo.; as well as many other relatives and a host of friends.
Funeral services were Oct. 20 at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola, the Rev. Neville Clayton officiating. The musical selection was Never Gone.
Honorary casket bearers were Jessica Mitchell, Christopher Mitchell, Spencer Mitchell, Elliot Mitchell, Tiffany McKnight and Rayanne Kennedy. Interment of the cremains was in Maple Hill Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family.
Grace I. Likes
Grace I. Likes, daughter of Lawrence Murdock Butts and Cora Eleanor Miller, was born Jan. 28, 1907, in Union County and died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease) Oct. 16, 2001, at Clarke County Hospital in Osceola. She was 94.
She attended Union and Clarke County schools. A 1923 graduate of Osceola High School, she married K.W. “Buck” Likes on Feb. 14, 1941. She lived most of her life in Clarke County.
Mrs. Likes was a wonderful cook and owned and operated the Club Cafe on the north side of the square for 23 years.
She was a member of the First Christian Church in Osceola.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, “Buck” in 1968; son-in-law, Britton Wells in October of 2000; four brothers, Ray, Howard, Ercel and Olan and five sisters, Lola Butts, Vera Kinyon, Bernice Cass, Gladys Dalby and Evelyn Crane.
Mrs. Likes is survived by her daughter, Betty J. Wells of Osceola; a sister, Lucille B. McCullough of Des Moines; two nieces, Carolyn Miller and her husband, Charles Miller, of Alvin, Texas and Lola Chitwood and her husband, Harold Chitwood, of Roseburg, Ore.; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were Oct. 19 at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola, the Rev. Neville Clayton officiating. Belva White, organist, accompanied Emil Rinderspacher as he sang It Is No Secret and How Great Thou Art.
Casket bearers were John Stoutner, Craig McCloney, Gene Coyle, Rod Clark, Bill Oehlert and Orval Black Jr. Interment was in Maple Hill Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Osceola Volunteer Fire Department.
DELLA RUTH VORIS
Della Ruth Voris, daughter of Charles Edward and Ella Rinker Chaney, was born Nov. 4, 1910, in Seneca, N.M. and died Oct. 21, 1998, at the Clarke County Hospital in Osceola. She was 87.
She married Keith G. Voris on March 4,1939, in Olathe, Kan. and moved to Osceola.They became the parents of a son, William Keith.
Mrs. Voris was employed by Nellie Don Garment Company in Kansas City for 13 years.
Mrs. Voris especially enjoyed working with her roses and playing cards. She was an active and dedicated member of the First Christian Church in Osceola and was proud of her work with the church.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 1976; her sister, Leona Puckett and two brothers, James and Charles Chaney.
Mrs. Voris is survived by her son William Keith Voris and his wife, Becky Voris, of Osceola; two grandchildren, Jolene Fields and her husband, Craig Fields, of Bondurant and Michael Voris of Osceola; a great-grandchild, Connor Fields of Bondurant; other relatives and a host of friends.
Services for Mrs. Voris were Oct. 23 at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola, the Rev. Fred Rohlfs officiating. Organist Pennie Gonseth accompanied Emil Rinderspacher as he sang I Know Who Holds Tomorrow and Amazing Grace.
Casket bearers were Robert Bell, Doug Stearns, Roger Kentner, Mike Kelly, Ed White and Terry Harrell. Interment was in the Woodburn Cemetery.
CHARLES DANIEL BRIERLY
Charles Daniel Brierly, son of William George Brierly and Beulah Mae Ramsey Brierly, was born April 9, 1909, in Craig, Mo. and died Nov. 1, 1998, at Clarke County Hospital in Osceola. He was 89.
Mr. Brierly attended Murray Schools and married Ora Ileen Lowe on Dec. 22, 1934, in Osceola. The couple became the parents of three children, Florence, Wendell and Twyla.
He was a farmer and spent his entire life in Decatur and Clarke Counties. He was also an avid quilter and had made countless numbers of his trademark postage stamp quilts. He was a member of the Osceola Lodge No. 77, Ophir Chapter No. 267 Order of the Eastern Star, White Shrine, York Rite and the Commandry Consistory at Leon.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister and seven brothers.
Mr. Brierly is survived by his wife, Ileen Brierly of Weldon; two daughters, Florence Blanchard and her husband, Russell Blanchard, of Des Moines and Twyla Polvani and her husband, Tony Polvani, of Las Vegas, Nev.; a son, Wendell Brierly and his wife, Linda Brierly, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; a sister, Dollie Burdess of Boone; a brother, Clarence Brierly of Springfield, Mo.; other relatives and a host of friends.
Services are today, Nov. 5, at the Kale Funeral Home in Osceola with The Rev. Fred Rohlfs officiating. Organist Pennie Gonseth will accompany Emil Rinderspacher as he sings In The Garden and Amazing Grace. Order of the Eastern Star services will be presented by Ophir Chapter No. 267 O.E.S. of Osceola. Masonic services will be presented by the Osceola Lodge No. 77 A.F. & A.M.
Casket bearers are Charles Gorsline, Jack Ames, Billie Moore, Dave Gorsline, Dick Jackson and Kent White.
Interment will be in Chaney Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.
Merna Chipp
Merna Louise Chipp, daughter of Thomas Urman Chipp and Vera Lucille Fullerton Chipp, was born Aug. 7, 1946, in Osceola and died Oct. 30, 2003, at her home near Des Moines. She was 57.
She received her education in the Osceola schools and graduated from high school in 1964. She attended and graduated with a teaching degree from Drake University in Des Moines. Following her graduation from Drake she began teaching math at Weeks Junior High School in Des Moines. She taught there for 34 years before she retired two years ago.
Over the years Miss Chipp was a member of various teaching organizations and was also a member of several bowling leagues. Bowling, collecting antiques and going to garage sales to find collectibles brought her enjoyment. Her pride and joy were her dogs, George, Charlie and B.J. They were almost like her children. Miss Chipp also traveled home nearly every weekend to be with her family in the Osceola area.
She was preceded in death by her father in 1966; her brother, Ronald Chipp and her niece, Deanna Chipp.
She is survived by her mother in Osceola; a brother, Earl Chipp of Osceola; a sister-in-law, Virginia Chipp of Des Moines; as well as nieces and nephews; uncles and aunts; a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Miss Chipp were Nov. 3 at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola, the Rev. Dwayne Henrichs of Thayer officiating. Organist Pennie Gonseth accompanied vocalist Chuck DeVos. Musical selections were Wind Beneath My Wings, In the Garden and The Old Rugged Cross.
Casket bearers were John Chipp, Darren Chipp, Daniel Chipp, Mark Smith, Todd Jackson and Neil Swyers. Honorary bearers were Robert Chipp Sr., Verlin Chipp, Cecil Crawford, Francis Glazebrook and Harold Burchett. Interment was in the Murray Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Osceola Public Library or Osceola Senior Center.
Jack Gardner
Jack Kelly Gardner, was born Jan. 2, 1927, in Fairmont, Minn., the son of Dr. Victor H. and Florence E. Jack Gardner. He died Oct. 20, 2003, at his home in Fairmont. He was 76.
He grew up in Fairmont and served in the U.S. Navy from December of 1944 until his honorable discharge in July of 1946.
He was a 1945 graduate of Fairmont High School in absentia and attended the University of Iowa where he received his medical doctor degree in 1953. He did additional medical training in surgery at Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.
He married Janice Margaret Carry on Aug. 24, 1952, at Osceola. They moved to Ceylon, Minn. in 1955 where he was in family practice until he moved to Fairmont in 1959. He continued in family practice in Fairmont with his father until 1971 when he became one of the founders of the Fairmont Medical Clinic. Dr. Gardner continued in family practice until he retired in 1987.
He attended the United Methodist Church and was a member of the Lakeview Methodist Health Care Foundation Board, Masonic Lodge Chain Lake Lodge 64, Scottish Rite Bodies Rochester, Zuhrah Shrine Minneapolis, Uptown Kiwanis Club, American Legion Post 36, Martin County VFW Post 1222, Minnesota State Medical Association, American Academy of Family Physicians and Interlaken Golf Club.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife of Fairmont; two daughters, Gayle M. Mueller and her husband, Thomas Mueller, of Eagan, Minn. and Julie Ann Cooper of Harden Hills, Minn.; a son, Dr. Todd K. Gardner and his wife, Monique Gardner, of Washington, D.C. two grandsons, Lee and Cole Mueller; two granddaughters, Emma Ruth and Esther Margaret Cooper; a brother, Dr. Victor H. Gardner and his wife, Hoshiko Gardner, Enumclaw, Wash.; a sister, Lois Ann Krumwiede and her husband, Gerald Krumwiede, of Leesburg, Va.; nieces and nephews.
Memorial services were at the United Methodist Church in Fairmont, on Oct. 24, the Rev. David Taylor officiating. Inurnment was at Fairmont. Masonic and military rites were presented.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Martin County Red Cross or the United Methodist Church of Fairmont.
