Obituaries
submitted by: Julia Johnson - julia.johnson63@gmail.com
 
 
[Byers, Jesse James Olen]

Clearfield Chronicle

Thursday     September 30, 1965     p. 7

Jesse J. Byers, Blockton, Dies

Jesse James [Olen] Byers, 55, of Blockton, passed away at the Ringgold County Hospital in Mt. Ayr Friday night, Sept. 24th.

Mr. Byers is survived by his widow, Pearl and one daughter.

Last rites were conducted at 2:00 P. M. Saturday from the Methodist Church in Blockton with Rev. Clarence Landis officiating with burial in the Blockton cemetery.

[Byers, Jesse James Olen]

Clearfield Chronicle

Thursday      October 7, 1965     p. 8

OBITUARY

J.O. BYERS

Jessie James Olin [Olen] Byers was born May 10, 1910 at Clarksville, Arkansas, to Robert and Alsy Byers and departed from this life on Sept. 24, 1965 at the Ringgold County Hospital in Mt. Ayr, Iowa at the age of 55 years, four months and 14 days, following a lengthy illness.

On November 14, 1932, he was united in marriage to Pearle E. Beadel of Lenox, Iowa. To this union was born one daughter, Sandra Jean.

James was preceded in death by his mother and father. He was known to his friends as J. O.

He was a showman for 17 years with the Byers Brothers Shows.

James and his wife lived in Council Bluffs, Iowa for 6 years. In June 1964 they moved to Blockton, Iowa, where they have made their home until the time of his death.

This spring of 1965 Mr. and Mrs. Byers transferred their church membership from the First Methodist Church of Lenox, Iowa to the Blockton Methodist Church of Blockton.

He leaves to mourn his passing, his wife, Pearl, a daughter, Sandra [Jean] Smith, one son-in-law, Leonard Smith, 2 grandchildren, Ricky Earle and Kim LaDawn Smith all of Blockton.

Two-step brothers, Carl and Jimmy Byers of the Byers Brothers Shows. Other relatives and a host of neighbors and friends.

Last rites were conducted from the Blockton Methodist Church on Monday, Sept. 27th at 2:00 P. M. with Rev. Clarence H. Landis, officiating with burial in the Rose Hill cemetery in Blockton.

[Byers, Jesse James Olen]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday      October 7, 1965     p. 6

James Byers Rites Sept. 27

Funeral services for Jessie James Olin [Olen] Byers, 55, of Blockton, were held September 27 at the Blockton Methodist Church with Rev. Clarence H. Landis officiating. Mr. Byers died September 24, 1985 at the Ringgold County Hospital in Mt, Ayr. Interment was at Rose Hill Cemetery, Blockton, Iowa.

Jessie James Olin [Olen] Byers was born May 10, 1910 at Clarksville, Arkansas, to Robert and Alsy Byers.

On November 14, 1932 he was united in marriage to Miss Pearle E. Beadel of Lenox, Iowa. To this union was born one daughter, Sandra Jean Byers.

James was preceded in death by his mother and father. He was known to his friends as J. O. He was a showman for 17 years with the Byers Brothers Shows.

James, together with his wife, lived in Council Bluffs for six years. Then in June 1964 they moved to Blockton where they have made their home.

This spring Mr. and Mrs. Byers transferred their church membership from the First Methodist Church of Lenox to the Blockton Methodist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Pearle Byers; daughter Sandra (Byers) Smith; son-in-law, Leonard Smith; two grandchildren, Ricky Earle and Kim LaDawn Smith, all of Blockton; two step-brothers, Carl and Jimmy Byers of the Byers Brothers Shows; other relatives and a host of neighbors and friends.

[Byers, Pearle Ellen Beadel]

Bedford Times-Press

Wednesday     February 7, 1996

PEARLE ELIEN BYERS

Pearle Elien [Ellen] Byers, 82, resident of the Clearview Nursing Home in Mount Ayr, Iowa died January 27, 1996 at the Greater Community Hospital in Creston, Iowa from heart and lung complications.

Pearle was born September 24, 1913 at Lenox, Iowa to [Percival] Earle and Vesta [Ella] Gold Beadel. She grew to maturity there, graduating in 1932.

On November 14, 1932, she was united in marriage to [Jesse] James Olen Byers from Fort Smith, Arkansas. They were blessed with their only child, Sandra Jean, on October 25,1937.

A good share of her life was spent traveling with her husband, on the road with the Byers Brothers Carnival.

Because of her husband's terminal health they moved to Blockton in 1964. Pearle then returned to Council Bluffs in 1966 where she was employed for 10 1/2 years at Mercy Hospital in the Housekeeping Department.

Pearle retired in 1976 and returned to Blockton. She moved into the Hilltop Housing in 1979.

Due to failing health, Pearle entered the Clearview Nursing Home of Mount Ayr in March of 1993.

Pearle was active in Blockton Community Betterment and the Hilltop Apartments Social Club. She spent many hours knitting and crocheting and much of her handy work remains behind for her family to enjoy. She loved to shop and dance and always enjoyed a good joke.

Pearle was preceded in death by her mother, father and beloved husband James.

She leaves to mourn her passing: daughter Sandra and son-in-law Leonard Smith of Blockton, Iowa; grandson Rick and wife Rose Smith of Creston, Iowa; granddaughter Kim and husband Jim Walker of Council Bluffs, Iowa; five great-grandchildren: Sherri, Josh and Rachel Smith and Steven and Eric Walker; her twin sister Mearle Elliott of the Lenox Care Center and Mearle's son Dennis and his family; and her sister Marjorie Williamson and husband Elijah of Mount Home, Arkansas and Marjorie's daughters Connie and Jeannie and their families.

She will be truly missed by her family and friends.

Services were held on Tuesday, January 30, 1996 at the Christian Church in Blockton, Iowa with the Rev. Scott Marcum officiating. Final resting place was Rose Hill Cemetery, Blockton, Iowa.

Arrangements by Wilson-Watson Service.

[Collins, Edna Pauline Harland]

Bedford Times-Press

Wednesday     July 3, 1996

EDNA COLLINS

Edna   [Pauline] Collins, 81, of   Des Moines, died Sunday morning, June 23, 1996 at the Hospice Kavanaugh House in Des Moines, Iowa.

She was born July 25, 1914 near Gravity, Iowa to [Ivan] Roy and Mabel [Pearl]  (Lefever) Harland.     She graduated    from    Bedford High School in 1933 and on March 28, 1934, she was married to Russell [E.] Collins.    They farmed and raised their family on a farm south of Siam, Iowa.    After her husband died in 1963 she moved to Gravity and lived there until 1983 when she moved to Des Moines to be with family. She had worked at the Mental Health Institute as a nurse’s aide until she retired in the fall of 1976.

She loved to garden, raising beautiful flowers and vegetables. She attended to her family and the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren meant very much to her.

She is survived by three children; Robert and his wife Linda of Springfield, MO; Kay [Louise] and her husband Walt Lame of Des Moines; and Gary and his wife Nancy of Kansas City, MO; twelve grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren; sisters, Pearl Lottridge of Grand Coulee, WA; Neva Robb of Gore, OK; and brother Elvin Harland of Coweta, OK. She was preceded in death by her husband Russell in 1963, her parents and seven brothers and sisters.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, 2:00 p.m., at Eickemeyer Funeral Chapel with burial at Shearer Cemetery, Braddyville, IA. Memorials are to the Hospice Kavanaugh House, Des Moines.

[Correll, Fred Walter]

Bedford Times-Press

Wednesday     June 19, 1996

Fred Walter Correll

Funeral services for Fred Walter Correll were held in the Novinger/ Taylor Funeral Home on Monday, June 17, 1996. The Rev. Paul Evans officiated with the interment at the Washington Cemetery in Gravity, Iowa.    

Fred Walter Correll, son of Tilden C. and Lydia (Edwards) Correll, was born in Page County, Iowa on October 13, 1913. He grew to maturity in the Page County area attending public school there. In 1942 he enlisted in the armed services and served in the European Theater during World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1945 and worked as a farm laborer.

Fred died on June 15, 1996 at the Taylor Ridge Estates having reached the age of 82 years, 8 months and 2 days.    He will be remembered for his love of flying and making kites, playing the guitar and his love of rhubarb pie.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Frank and Bill; and two sisters, Pearl McDonald and Mabel Aubert. He is survived by one sister, Mae Hogue; an aunt, Alvera Streeter; and several nieces, nephews and friends. He was a kind and considerate brother and friend and will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

[Hewitt, Edith Mae Butler]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    January 2, 1964    p. 4

MRS. CHARLES HEWITT SERVICES DEC. 27

Funeral services for Mrs. Charles (Edith) [Mae Butler] Hewitt, 81, of Lenox were held December 27 at the Lenox Methodist Church. Mrs. Hewitt died Dec. 24 at Greater Community Hospital in Creston. Interment was at Lenox cemetery.

Mrs. Hewitt and her husband had observed their 61st wedding anniversary last March.

She is survived by her husband, Charles [Walter]; one son, Ray, of Lenox; four daughters, Mrs. Russell (Irene) Wurster of Lenox, Mrs. Orville (Velma) Bentley of Diagonal, Mrs. Orville (Lucille) Shawler and Mrs. Gene (Helen) Blazek, both of Creston; 15 grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren; a brother, Harry Butler of Lenox; four sisters, Mrs. Olive Hughes, Mrs. Carrie Dahlberg, Mrs. Ernest Peterson, Mrs. Harve Wilson, all of Lenox and one half sister, Mrs. Mary Jane Jones of Oskaloosa.

[Hoffman, Elnora Elizabeth Bush]

Bedford Times-Press

Wednesday    June 19, 1996

Elnora Elizabeth (Bush) Hoffman, the daughter of Franklin and Alma (Stroud) Bush was born on February 3, 1914 at Guss, Iowa. She was raised on the family farm until a young girl when the family moved to Clearfield, Iowa where she graduated from high school in 1933.

Later she went with her parents to Blockton, Iowa; while there she met Howard Holman Hoffman of Redding, Iowa and they married on February 15,1937 in Churdan, Iowa. After their marriage they lived in Grinnell, Iowa and later moved to Grand Island, Nebraska until going back to Ringgold County Iowa to farm in 1941. They spent the following 27 yers farming in Ringgold, Taylor and Page counties until 1968 when they moved to Newton, Iowa and both Elnora and Howard worked for the Newton Community School District. They remained there until Howard's passing December 26,1991 and then Elnora moved shortly thereafter to Lexington, Kentucky to be near her family.

Elnora was always active in community affairs wherever she lived. She was always very active in her children's school lives and in her church and neighborhood.  She was baptized and raised in the Methodist Church and remained [a] faithful servant to the Lord throughout her life. She was selected Homemaker of the Year in 1991 by the Page County Women's Farm Bureau. She received the WSCS Missions Award from the Shenandoah United Methodist Church and was recognized as Volunteer of the Year by Garden View Nursing Home in Shenandoah.

Elnora was preceded in death by her husband, Howard and her parents, three brothers and one sister.

Left to cherish her memory are her five children; Cecile and her husband Larry Cozad of LaCrescent, MN; Larry and his wife Julie of West Lafayette, IN; Mariann and her husband Ken Harlan of Lexington, KY; Carolyn and her husband Robert Towers of Honeoye Falls, NY; and David of Arlington, TX; eighteen grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren, three sisters-in-law, many nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives and dear friends.

Mrs. Hoffman passed away June 10, 1996 in Winchester, Kentucky after a long illness.

[Lyons, LaVeta Josephine Murphy]

Bedford Times-Press

Wednesday     February 7, 1996

LAVETA JOSEPHINE MURPHY

LaVeta Josephine Murphy was the daughter of Martha [Elzena Moler] and William [Benjamin] Murphy. She was born January 27, 1911 near Redding, Iowa and passed away at the age of 85 on January 27,1996.

LaVeta taught school after graduation for 10 years, then on October 6, 1940 she married Leon Lyons and to them were born two sons, Larry and Roger.

They moved to a farm near Hopkins in 1948 and have resided there ever since that time.

LaVeta was a lover of flowers and enjoyed farm animals.

LaVeta joined the Auxiliary 47 years ago and still belonged at time of passing. She was a Methodist Church member and belonged to the Mary Ridge Social Club ever since moving here in 1948.

She had one grandchild, which was the pride and joy of the family. She was Angela Lyons, daughter of Larry and Peggy of Loveland, Co. Roger and his wife Peggy live in Hopkins.

Preceding her in death were her mother and dad, Mr. and Mrs. W. [illiam] B.[enjamin] Murphy and brother Verle William Murphy who was in the Marines. He is buried in the Philippines. Also, a brother Flavel Murphy who lived in Bedford. Also nieces and nephews.

She was a wonderful mother and a friend to all who knew her.

Funeral services were held January 30, 1996 at the Novinger-Taylor Funeral Home in Bedford with interment at the Hopkins Cemetery, Hopkins, Missouri.

[Miller, Allen Clark]

Bedford Times-Press

Wednesday     June 26, 1996

Services for Allen C. [lark] Miller, age 50, of Buffalo Grove were held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 22, 1996 at First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Hts., IL. Burial was private.    

He was born on October 29, 1945 in Clarinda Iowa, and died June   19, 1996   at   Northwest Community    Hospital    after    a prolonged illness.

He was employed as Senior Vice President of Human Resources of IMC Global, where he was employed for 28 years.

Survivors include: loving wife, Alice D. nee King, married 31 years, January 28, 1965. Children; Kelly (Tony) Newsom, of Kirkland, Washington, and Gregory of Buffalo Grove. Beloved grandchildren: Matthew and Audrey Newsom. Mother; Lucile [Allen] Miller of Red Oak, Iowa, sister, Lana (John) Spence of Lincoln, Neb., Mother-in-law: Imojean King of Blockton, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his father D. [elbert] Clark Miller.

[Miller, Delbert Clark]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     March 29, 1984     p. 4

Clark Miller, 64, Last Rites Were Held in Red Oak

Funeral services for Delbert "Clark" Miller, 1012 Circle Drive, Red Oak, formerly of Bedford, were held March 23 in Nelson-Boylan Funeral Chapel in Red Oak with Rev. Frank Fagerburg, Pastor of the First Baptist Church, officiating. Mr. Miller died March 19, 1984 in Montgomery County Hospital in Red Oak. Interment was at Evergreen Cemetery, Red Oak.

Delbert Miller, son of Delbert and Nellie [Clayton] Miller, was born September 20, 1919 in Page County, Iowa.

On November 22, 1941 he was married to Lucile Allen in Albany, Mo. They were the parents of a son, Allen [Clark], and daughter, Lana.

They lived many years in Bedford, Ia. where he was associated with the grocery business and then as an insurance agent for Banker's Life of Nebraska. In 1964 they moved to Minneapolis, Minn, where he became State Sales Director for General United Ins. Co.

Later they moved to Lincoln, Nebr. and in 1971 to Red Oak where he worked for Enquist Ins., Hy-Klas Grocery and Hunt's Super Value as a meat cutter until retiring in 1983.

Miller served in the Army during World War II. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge of Bedford, Iowa and American Legion Post of Lincoln, Nebr.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Lucile Miller; son Allen [Clark] Miller, Wheeling, Ill.; daughter Lana Miller, Lincoln, Nebr.; two grandchildren; three sisters: Mrs. Eula Hall, Sarasota, Fla., Mrs. Gladys Christensen, College Springs, Iowa, and Mrs. Helen Dyer, Clearwater, Ks.

Memorial suggested to American Lung Association.

[Norris, Alma Julia Meeker]

Bedford Times-Press

Wednesday     June 19, 1996

Alma Julia Norris

Services for Alma Julia Norris were held at the Novinger Taylor Funeral Home on Thursday, June 13, 1996 with the Rev. Paul Evans officiating. Interment was at the Redding, Iowa Cemetery.

Alma Julia Norris, the daughter of Wellington and Luemma (Cooper) Meeker was born in Worth County, Missouri on July 19, 1898. She lived in the Worth County area with her parents where she grew to maturity and graduated from high school in Grant City, Missouri.

On March 10, 1918, she was united in marriage to Rex Rowe at Gallatin, Missouri from whom she later separated. To this union one daughter was born, Irilene Gail Denney. On August 11, 1949 she married Dean Norris and lived and farmed with her husband in the Redding, Iowa area. During the war she was employed by Boeing Air Craft as a tail gun riveter because of her small size. After their retirement they moved to Bedford, Iowa where she will be remembered as the "popcorn lady." She spent many hours in her later years crocheting afghans and potholders for family and friends.  

Alma died at the Apache Junction Health Center in Apache Junction, Arizona on June 9, 1996 at the age of 97 years 10 months and 21 days. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dean Norris; her parents, four brothers; Alonzo, Dave, Charlie and one brother who died in infancy; and four sisters, Pearl, Lily, Lucretia, and Irilla.

Alma is survived by her daughter and husband, Irilene and Nelson Denney of Red Feather Lakes, Colorado; granddaughter and husband Sue and Jim Briggs of Speculator, New York; one great-granddaughter, Amy Briggs of Seattle Washington and one great grandson Jay Briggs of Ellensburg, Washington; niece Ramona Parker, nephew, Billy Bolt.

She was a member of the Bedford United Methodist Church and the Redding Garden Club. She was kind, considerate and thoughtful of others and will be missed by all who knew and loved her. Memorials may be made to the Bedford or Redding United Methodist Churches.

[Smith, Curtis Neal]

Bedford Times-Press

Wednesday     April 7, 2004

Curtis Neal Smith

Curtis Neal Smith passed away Saturday evening around 6:30 p.m. March 13, 2004. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Beecher Smith. No special service will be held. His body will be cremated and ashes sprinkled over his parents graves.

Ila, wife of Neal will remain at their home at 122 South Lincoln Street Wayland, Michigan 49348.

Neal graduated from Gravity High School, and served in U.S. Navy during World War II. After World War II, Neal worked in Michigan, near Detroit. His folks moved to Michigan to be close to their family. Neal married a Michigan girl, and raised two children there. Neal never forgot Gravity, always enjoyed visiting in Gravity, and seeing old friends and buddies. Neal's parents preceded him in death, as well as two brothers, Gus and Merle, and one sister, Maxine.

Neal hasn't been in good health the past year, and at times was in great pain. His wife, Ila Smith will remain at their home in Wayland for the time being. She would enjoy hearing from Neal's friends from Gravity.

[Tamerius, Ruth Scott]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    December 6, 1984    p. 6

Ruth Scott Tamerius services held

Services for Ruth Scott Tamerius, 91, were held December 1 at Shum-Novinger Funeral Home in Bedford with Rev. Carl Cummings officiating. Burial was at Maloy Cemetery, Maloy, Iowa.

Mrs. Tamerius died November 28, 1984 at Parkdale Manor in Maryville, Mo.

Ruth Tamerius, daughter of John Scott and Sarah Brown Scott, was born in Ringgold County, near Maloy, Iowa December 28, 1892 and grew to maturity in the Maloy and Blockton area where she attended the public school and the Christian Church. She taught school in Gay Township prior to her marriage on February 23, 1915 to Frank C. [leveland] Tamerius. They were married at the Methodist parsonage in Bedford, Iowa.

They lived in Ringgold County Iowa and engaged in farming. To this union five children were born: Francel, Thelma, Ralph, John and Terence.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a brother Ralph; a sister Rena and a grandson Edward Walston.

Left to cherish her memory are her children: Francel and her husband Howard Barton of La Jolla, Calif.; Thelma and her husband Vane Walston of Bedford, Iowa; Ralph Tamerius of Bedford, Iowa; John and his wife Phyllis of Bremerton, Wa.; Terence and his wife Mary of Media, Pa.; 13 grandchildren; 34 great grandchildren; and three great great grandchildren; a sister, Ruby Soma of Lenox, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Following the death of her husband she moved to California where she was employed in the U.S. Navy Air Station at San Diego, Ca. under U.S. Navy Civil Service from 1940 until 1960 when she retired and returned to Bedford to make her home.

Her family and friends will remember her as a kind and considerate loved one and she will be sadly missed by all who knew her.

[Tamerius, Terence W.]

Bedford Times-Press

Wednesday     June 19, 1996

Terence Tamerius

Terence W. Tamerius, 72, of 500 Lancaster Ave., Adamstown, died Monday morning at the Ephrata Community Hospital following a short illness.

He and his wife, Mary Prystash Tamerius, were married 52 years on March 14.

He was born in Maloy, Iowa, and was the son of the late Frank C. [leveland] and Ruth Scott Tamerius.

Terence grew to adulthood in Blockton. He joined the Navy at a very young age. He was stationed on the East Coast during World War II. He continued to work for many years for the Navy at various places, including Indiana, California and Washington State.

After retiring from the Navy he was an antique dealer in Pennsylvania. He was a craftsman, making furniture, stained glass windows, lamps and other objects.

He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and a member of the Warren G. Harding Lodge 218, Free and Accepted Masons, of Poulsbo, Wash.

Surviving besides his wife are two sisters, Francel [Lillian] Barton of La Jolla, Calif., and Thelma Walston of Bedford, Iowa.

[Walters, Homer Harlow]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    June 3, 1937    p. 8

H. H. Walters Dies At Home Monday

H. [omer] H. [arlow] Walters died at his home in north Bedford Monday, May 31, after a year’s illness.

The funeral services were held at the Wetmore Funeral Home Wednesday afternoon conducted by Rev. W. F. Overhulser. Burial was in the Knowlton cemetery.

Homer Harlow Walters, the youngest of three sons of Joseph and Sophronia [Lininger] Walters, was born in Ringgold County, Iowa, Dec. 16, 1890, being 46 years, 5 months and 15 days of age at the time of his death.

He was married in 1914 to Miss Alice [Leona] Mathis.  To them were born two daughters, Olive and Wilma, both of the home.

Surviving with the wife and two daughters are the two brothers, Ray Walters of Diagonal and C. [harles] B. [yron] Walters of Bedford. His mother and father preceded him in death.

He was a kind husband, a loving father and a good neighbor.