Harriet "Louise" (OSBURN) WEIR
HUNTER, OSBURN, WEIR, RUSSELL, HENRY, COLYN
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 11/19/2010 at 14:41:42
OBITUARY - HARRIET "LOUISE" (OSBURN) WEIR
Harriet "Louise" WEIR, age 89, daughter of Emmett Lloyd and Opal Marie HUNTER OSBURN, was born on the family farm in Clayton Township, Taylor County, IA on September 29, 1920. She will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband and son in Fairview Cemetery, Bedford, IA. Memorials may be directed the Taylor County Museum.
Growing up on the family farm, Louise was a "Tomboy," helping her Dad with the cattle chores, mowing and raking hay and cultivating corn with a team of horses and one-row cultivator, by the time she was 10-years-old, milking the family cows, being "water boy" for the threshing crew, and the many other chores associated with farm life, She was active in both Boys' and Girls' 4-H, showing steers at the County and State Fair; also being on the Blue Ribbon Girls' demonstration team from Taylor County at the Iowa State Fair in 1937, showing how to recane the old dining room chairs (many gathering dust in attics). Their finished product was a chair brought from PA to IA in 1853 by her great grandparents.
Her schooling was at Willow Street (Clayton #8) through the 8th grade, then graduating from Bedford High School in 1937, where she was on the Honor Roll and a member of the National Honor Society. She worked in the School Library and in Supt. LaMar’s office her Junior and Senior years.
It was during her Freshman year that Louise and her future husband had their first date. After graduation, she and the Love of Her Life, Guy Thomas Weir, were married November 22, 1937 in the Baptist Parsonage, Mount Ayr, IA, by Rev. Thos. H. BOGGESS. To this loving union, four children were born: Thomas Lowell, Eldon Lee, Donald Leslie and Joyce Marie.
Their first five years was spent on a rented farm in Jackson Township, before buying their own farm in Jackson Township, which needed much TLC. Working together with their young children, they picked up rocks and built fence while raising chickens, hogs and cattle. Every Conservation Practice possible was used besides repairing, remodeling or building new every building on the farm; they even built a new house. "Weiridge Angus Farm" was established as their family grew up, selling many steers, bulls and heifers to 4-H members, as well as in local and State Angus Sales.
It was during those early years that their youngest son, Donald, became ill with Polio and complications, requiring much care and many trips to doctors and hospitals, before he passed away in 1952 at ten years of age.
Besides being a dedicated, busy farmer's "tomboy" Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother, Louise was also interested in her community. She served as 4-H Leader for 15 years (each girl was treated as her own daughter), was a member of the Union Country Club, the UK Club, the Friendship Club, the Baptist Ladies, and was active in the local and Iowa State Angus Auxiliaries. She served in all capacities as a State officer, and in 1973, was serving as President of the Iowa Auxiliary when Iowa hosted the National Angus Auxiliary in Chicago.
Louise and Guy were Lifetime Members of the Taylor County Historical Society, volunteering their time and helping with repairs at the Museum. When time allowed, they enjoyed searching for genealogy records. Together they repaired and refinished antique furniture.
In 1977, after their doctor advised they slow down, they sold their larger farm and livestock, moved to a smaller farm where they could continue the country life, Guy could continue his custom baling and the grandchildren could spend their vacations on the farm. They lived all their lives in either Jackson or Clayton Township, before moving into Bedford in 1995, never having lived more than six miles from where either was born and raised.
Louise’s hands were seldom idle. She always raised a large garden, canning or freezing many containers of produce, mowed the lawn, helped with the livestock chores, or with field work; she was always that "tomboy" of her youth. She made many of her and her daughter's dresses, patched many pair of overalls and jeans (no one went to school or to the field with a hole in their knee), and darned many pairs of socks, which were more like a decoration than a repair. She enjoyed all kinds of needlework -- regular embroidery, Needlepoint, Crewel, Latchhook and Counted Cross Stitch; she seldom sat down without something handy to work on. With her husband's help, many samplers were framed and given as gifts.
Louise passed away February 18, 2010 at her home in Bedford, Iowa.
Preceding Louise in death were her companion of 63 years, Guy Thomas WEIR; son, Donald WEIR; parents, Emmett and Opal OSBURN; all her siblings: 3 brothers, Paul OSBURN, Loyd OSBURN, an infant brother, Horace OSBURN, and sister, Anita RUSSELL. Also her parents-in-law, Samuel and Olive WEIR; sisters-in-law, Irene HENRY, Esther OSBURN and Shirley WEIR; brothers-in-law, Hubert HENRY, H. K. RUSSELL, J.T. WEIR and John COLYN.
Her family will treasure their memories of Louise with a Legacy of love that will be cherished and shared by her children: Lowell and Annette WEIR, Des Moines, IA; Lee WEIR, St. Louis, MO; Joyce and Randy WEISS, Council Bluffs, IA; 8 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; sisters-in-law Joanne OSBURN, Bedford, IA and Alice COLYN, Sabetha, KS; nieces and nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Friday, February 26, 2010 at Eickemeyer Funeral Chapel-Bedford with Rev. Ted DeHASS officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services. A luncheon for all will follow. Memorials are suggested to the Taylor County Museum. Eickemeyer Funeral Chapel www.EFC.cc
SOURCE: www.efc.cc/obituaries/database/Details.aspx?id=3630
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, November of 2010
Ringgold Obituaries maintained by Tony Mercer.
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