Helen Iola (GARLAND) FERGUSON PRITCHARD

GARLAND, FERGUSON, PRITCHARD, SHARP, STANLEY, MORRISON, LECHTENBERGER, MCINTOSH

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/5/2009 at 21:29:19

OBITUARY - HELEN IOLA (GARLAND) FERGUSON PRITCHARD

Helen Iola PRITCHARD was born April 4, 1913 at her beloved Grandmother Helen Lucia SHARP's home east of Tingley, Iowa. She was the oldest child of Oscar and Arbie (STANLEY) GARLAND. Iola passed away peacefully May 20, 2007 at the Clearview Nursing Home surrounded by her family. She had been a resident there for approximately one month. She was 94.

Iola attended school in Tingley and graduated with the class of 1932.

She was a member of the Methodist Church in Tingley until her marriage to George FERGUSON at Carl, Iowa, April 12, 1933. She then joined the Presbyterian Church in Tingley where she and her family attended faithfully. To this union five children were born. George passed away suddenly December 5, 1959 leaving her with two children still in the home. She married Arthur PRITCHARD also of Tingley, October 19, 1967, he left this earth December 9, 1992.

Iola lived in Tingley all of her life except for the short time she lived in Des Moines as a small child. She often talked about her Father working as a street car conductor at the time. She also loved to reminisce about growing up in the small town of Tingley, of her school years and later raising her family there.

Iola enjoyed her life. She was a devoted wife and mother and a wonderful Grandmother. She loved them all and they loved her.

Everyone who knew Iola liked spending time with her. She had a quick wit, warm caring personality and an infectious smile which she displayed often.

Over the years she often shared her talent as a piano player at her church. She belonged to several women’s organizations there one of which sewed baby clothes for African children which she helped with. Iola enjoyed crocheting and had shared the beautiful things she had made with friends and family. She loved to go for rides with family around Ringgold County visiting places that held special memories for her.

She enjoyed going to area second-hand /antique shops looking for something special to take home to where she had lived for 63 years. She especially enjoyed being able to get out in her own car to shop and to go up town to meet with friends over a cup of coffee. Many Tingley tales were told on these occasions and because she holds the unofficial record of having lived longer in Tingley than any other resident, she had many stories to tell.

Iola will be greatly missed by not only her family but her neighbors and the many friends she made over the years as well.

Left to cherish her memory are five loving children and their spouses. They are Donna and her husband Roger MORRISON of Mount Ayr, IA, Darl and wife Ann of Creston, Hugh and wife Tonya of Warsaw, IL, Gay Lou and husband Dick LECHTENBERGER of Creston, and Gary and wife Connie of Baxter, IA. She leaves 16 grandchildren, 26 great-grand-children and one great-great-granddaughter. Also, two step-children Mary Sue McINTOSH and Earl PRITCHARD and their families. She was preceded in death by her parents Oscar and Arbie GARLAND; brothers, Stanley and Truman and sister Retta Berniece (GARLAND) FERGUSON.

Iola was truly the center of her family’s lives and her leaving will leave an empty place that will never be filled. But we believe as she departed this world she was greeted in the next by those she loved who had gone on before her and a loving Heavenly Father who embraced her and said, "Well done my good and faithful servant." Iola will be laid to rest beside her husband George in the Tingley cemetery. The family would like to thank the Clearview Nursing Home, Hospice of Central Iowa and Ringgold County Hospital for making her passing easier for her and for them.

Memorials may be given in her name to the Tingley Meal Site and/or The Tingley Presbyterian Church.

Services were held Thursday, May 24, 2007 at 10:30 p.m., Presbyterian Church of Tingley, Iowa.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2009