Esther Merle Cole Stark 1893-1984

STARK, COLE, ADAMS, REDMAN, CAMP, MASON, REASONER, PETERSON, AKES, BRINK, CROSS, BURCHETT, JONES, BOLES

Posted By: Jeanne Gaumer (email)
Date: 3/15/2009 at 17:31:04

Osceola newspaper

Esther Merle Stark, 91, a former resident of Grand River, died at the Leon Care Center in Leon Thursday, February 23 [1984].

Funeral services were held from the Kale Funeral Home in Osceola Saturday, February 25 with Vernon Spinner and Jeff Evans of Davenport conducting the 10:30 a.m. rites. Interment was in Westerville Cemetery.

Esther Merle Stark was born January 17, 1893 in Decatur County, Iowa, daughter of Doc Cole and Candace Adams Cole. She received her education in Decatur County schools and on September 30, 1908 was married to John Leslie Stark in Leon. SEVENTEEN children were born to this union.

She was a member of the undenominational Christian Church.

Survivors include a son, Neil Stark and wife, Goldie of Grand River; daughter, Oneta Redman of Osceola; daughter, Doris Redman and husband, Robert of Osceola; daughter Ruth Camp and husband, Leonard of Osceola; daughter, Ruby Stark of Grand River; son, Edgar Stark and wife, Georgie of Creston; daughter, Bessie Mason and husband, Jr. of Burbank, California; daughter, Martha Reasoner and husband, Earl of Indianola; daughter, Ellen Peterson and husband, David of Grand River; son, Clifford Stark of Osceola; son, Donald Stark and wife, Nina of Glen Rock, Wyoming; daughter, Marjorie Akes and husband, Gerald of Grimes; daughter, Joan Brink and husband, Donald of Raytown, Missouri; son, Merlin Stark and wife, Lois of Eagle Grove; 48 grandchildren; 78 great grandchildren; seven great great grandchildren; a sister, Bessie Cross of Leon and daughter-in-law Ruby L. Stark.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John in 1947; three sons, Noel Stark, Leroy Stark and Dale Stark; five grandchildren; two brothers, James and Frank Cole; daughter-in-law, Phyllis Stark; three sisters, Nellie Burchett, Kathryn Jones and Alda[Minnie Adaline] Adams and one foster sister, Susie Boles.