Lenox, Taylor County, Iowa obituaries
transcribed by: Lorelei Rusco - lorerus@iowatelecom.net
 
 

Black, Raymond D -

Raymond D. Black was born July 8, 1931, the last of four children born to Etta and Edgar Black. He passed away at St. Francis Medical Center on Oct. 13, 1994, at the age of 63. He was preceded in death by both his mother and father.

Ray grew up on a farm in Lenox with his sister, Betty, and brothers Kenny and Don. He graduated from high school in 1949 and served in the Army during the Korean Conflict from 1952-1954.

His daughter, Debra Rae Lea, was born during his marriage. He also raised a step-son, Joe, as his own. Ray was an iron worker

by trade. He worked in various places before making Chillicothe, Illinois, his home. He suffered industrial accidents in 1975 and 1976. As a result, he was unable to continue to work, but he remained quite active. Ray very much enjoyed  trap shooting, and in recent

years he swam in the morning at the Pearce Community Center. He also enjoyed cultivating a large garden.

He is survived by his daughter Debbie (husband Jim) Ralston, and his children Nicole and Jessica; step-son Joe Kasel and his daughter

Deanna; sister Betty (husband Dean) Weller; brother Kenny (wife Clytha); brother Don; nephew Ron (wife Lori) Weller and children; niece Karen (husband Stan) Price and children; niece Janell Black; nephew Jim (wife Peggy) Black and children; and niece Sheila

Weaver and daughter, nephew Bob, as well as many cousins and friends.

Pall bearers at funeral serves were Jim Black, Bob Black, Bill Murphy, Dick Randall, E.J. Cothren, Lloyd Heddon, Elbert King, Kevin Wonder and Cally Morgan.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday October 26, 1994

 

Cink, Philip D -

Funeral services for Philip D. Cink, 43, of Sioux Falls, S.D., were held Dec. 10 at St. Joseph Cathedral in Sioux Falls. Interment was at Berg Cemetery, rural Renner, S.D. Philip died Wednesday, Dec. 7 in Sioux Falls.

He was born April 7, 1951, in Sioux Falls and attended High School at Parker, S.D., and Sioux Falls, graduating from Lincoln High

School in 1969.

Phil enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in the Mediterranean. After his discharge, he attended the North Dakota School of

Science in Wahpeton, N.D. Phil was united in marriage with Judy Bennett on August 18, 1973 in Sioux Falls. The couple made their

home in Hartford and later moved to the Lenox, Iowa area where Phil farmed for three years. The couple moved back to Sioux Falls in 1977, where Phil was employed at Thorson Heating in sheetmetal fabrication.

In 1982, Phil started his own business, Phil's Ag Service, where he worked until his illness.

Survivors include his wife Judy; daughters Angle and Kristy Cink, both at home; son Michael Cink at home; parents Derald and Janice Cink of Sioux Falls; sister Patricia Leisinger and husband Frank of Trent, S.D.; brother Tim Cink of Sioux Falls; brothers-in-law Tom Bennett (wife Rose) of Louisville, Colo.,  Mick Bennett (wife Barb) of  Creston; sister-in-law Linda  Notz (husband Richard) of

Lenox; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday December 14, 1994

 

Cordell, Troy A -

Funeral services for Troy A. Cordell, 23, Creston, were held Saturday, Dec. 24, at Keating-Lindsay Golden Rule Funeral Home. Rev. Robert L. Pickerell of the First Christian Church in Creston officiated.

Troy died Dec. 22 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

Survivors include his parents, H. Eugene and Beverly of Creston; brother Craig Cordell of Creston; sister Julie Moffitt of Alburnett,

Iowa; grandmothers Evelyn Chapman and Minnie Cordell of Creston; one nephew and two nieces.

He was born June 2, 1971, in Creston and was a lifelong Creston resident.

A memorial will be established in his name. Burial was at Graceland Cemetery in Creston.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday January 4, 1995

 

Davidson, Jesse Vern (Sammy) -

Funeral services for Jesse V. "Sammy" Davidson, 73, of Lenox were held Dec. 14 at Coen-Beaty Funeral Home in Lenox with Rev. Robert Shreve officiating.

Casket bearers were Mike Lillie, Don Black, Bill Campbell, Gail Matheny, Butch Davis, Earl Beckett, Peter Davidson and Scott Davidson.

Music was provided by Norma Paymal, Billie Jean Barker and Marilyn Beck.

Parkinson Post #250 American Legion provided military rites. Interment was at North Fairview Cemetery in Lenox. Coen-Beaty Funeral

Home was in charge of arrangements.

Jesse was the son of William Lloyd and Hattie Winemiller Davidson. He was born May 23, 1921, in Sheridan, Mo., and died Dec.

10, 1994 at the age of 73 years. He made his home at Taylor Ridge Estates for the past few years.

Sammy attended school in Sheridan, Mo. On Feb. 16, 1946, he was united in marriage to Mildred Mae Boham in Troy, Kansas. They

had two sons, Louis and Lloyd.

The family lived in Lenox for many years. Sammy worked as a truck driver and was an employee of the City of Lenox for several years. He served in the Army during World War II and was a member of Parkinson Post 250 of the American Legion.

He is survived by his wife, Mildred, of Corning; sons Louis of Decatur, Ark., and Lloyd (Pete) of Lenox; eight grandchildren and six greatgrandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Karl.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday December 21, 1994

 

Doll, Raymond -

Raymond Doll, 82, of Shawnee Mission, Kansas, died Oct. 15, 1994, at the age of 82.

He was born Feb. 29, 1912 at Ellinwood, Kansas. In 1939 he married Mary Clare Dixon of Junction City, Kansas. Mr. Doll received Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Kansas State University and the Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of

Minnesota. He was a professor at Kansas State before becoming an economist with the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City in 1951.

Mr. Doll served as an economist on the Federal Open Market Committee. He was chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural

Development of the Federal  Reserve System Research Advisory Committee from 1956 to 1972. He also was a staff member of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin from 1954 to 1974. He received the Distinguished Service in the Field of Agriculture Award from Kansas State, was a member of the Board of Directors and President of the University Alumni Association

in 1971 and 1972. He was named Vice President and Director of Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City in November 1972.

Survivors include three daughters: Mary Lou (husband Rudy) Imm of Lenox, Judy (husband Joe) Oilman of Lawrence, Kansas, and Jane

(husband Jim) True of Gladstone, Mo.; a son, Dixon (wife Carol) of San Francisco; and 12 grandchildren.

Mr. Doll's wife preceded him in death.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday October 26, 1994

 

Henderson, Guy Porter -

Lenox and Clearfield area residents paid their final respects last week to Guy P. Henderson, 81, a lifelong resident of Taylor County who

died Monday, Nov. 21. Funeral services were held Wednesday, Nov. 23, at the Lenox United Presbyterian Church.

Guy was active in many civic areas. He was known for his management of the Lenox Stock and Saddle Club Calf show as well as his work with 4-H clubs. He was a member of the Lenox Rotary Club since 1952 (the club's second-longest membership), and in June 1994 he received the first lifetime achievement award presented by Kappa Zeta Sorority.

Survivors include his wife, Mary, and children T.L. of LaJunta, Colo, Judith Ann Teig of Urbandale, William of Clearfield and Onetta Kay of Des Moines.

More information is contained in an obituary elsewhere in this edition.

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Funeral services for Guy Porter Henderson, 81, of Lenox were held Wednesday, Nov. 23, at Lenox United Presbyterian

Church with Rev. Timothy Maxa officiating.

Casket bearers were Jeff Reed, Randy Riley, Harold Nelson, Dan Carruthers, Norbert Bradley and Chris Christensen. Music was by

Margaret Ship.

Guy was the son of Thomas and Leota Porter Henderson and was born Feb. 7, 1913, in Taylor County. He died Nov. 21, 1994, at his

home in Lenox at the age of 81 years, 9 months and 24 days.

He was born between Clearfield and Lenox on the family farm where he was raised. Guy graduated from Clearfield High School in 1931

and farmed with his father before and during his college years at Iowa State College. He earned a two-year degree from

the agriculture college in 1933 and later returned to Ames, completing his bachelor of science degree work in 1939.

While at Iowa State, Guy was a member of the Iowa State wrestling team, the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and sang with the college chorus and the YMCA quartet.

On June 6, 1941, he married Mary Louise Arneal of Redding Iowa. To this union four children were born. Guy was a member of the

Lenox United Presbyterian Church and enjoyed singing, especially in quartets. He was also an active member of several organizations. He was a life-long Republican and a longtime member of the Lenox Rotary Club. He was a 4-H leader, managed the Lenox Stock & Saddle Club Calf Show and was a member of the Taylor County Farm Bureau.

Farming was Guy's profession, and he raised purebred Polled Herefords, Hampshire sheep and Poland China hogs.

Survivors are his wife, Mary Henderson, of Lenox; children T.L. (wife Cheryl) of LaJunta, Colo., Judith Ann (husband Richard) Teig of

Urbandale; William James (wife Nickie) Henderson of Clearfield, and Onetta Kay Henderson of Des Moines; seven grandchildren, Ty and

Cole Henderson, Brenda and Ellen Teig, Clay, and Grant and Paige Henderson; brother S. Milton Henderson of Davis, California.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Thomas and Leota Porter Henderson. Memorials are to Lenox Community Trust.

Interment was in East Fairview Cemetery, with Larkin & Shelley Funeral Homes in charge of arrangements.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday November 30, 1994

 

Hill, Walter Oral -

Walter Oral Hill, 78, of Corning died Dec. 9, 1994 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.

Walter lived his youth and early married life near Lenox until moving to Adams County in 1939. He lived the rest of

his life in Adams County. He was a farmer and stockman.

Walter was born Jan. 12, 1916, in Lenox to Otto J. and Mamie Copeland Hill. He married June Cattlet on Sept.

17, 1935 in Bedford.

Funeral services were held Monday, Dec. 12, at Roland Lindsay Chapel with Rev Kenneth Rummer officiating.

Interment was in Stringtown Cemetery.

He is survived by his wife, June; son Jack (wife Delores) Hill of Corning; daughter Carolyn (husband Jim) Curtis

of Corning; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday December 21, 1994

 

Jones, Eva Nellie Reed -

Funeral services for Eva N. Jones, 84, were held Tuesday, Dec. 27, at United Methodist Church in Lenox with Rev. Robert Shreve

officiating.

Kathryn Wilson, Billie Jean Barker and Marilyn Beck provided music. Casket bearers were Jerry, Jim, David and Dennis Reed; Larry Brammer; and Galen Baker. Honorary pallbearers were Dick Gray, Ernie Hufnagel, Bud Spoonemore, LaVaughn Howard, Larry and David

Nolan, J.D. Burris, Terry Leatherwood and George Hayes.

Interment was at North Fairview Cemetery, with Coen-Beaty Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Eva Nellie Jones was born April 29, 1910, on a ranch in Friona, Texas, to W.O. and Erma Eva Reed (Belding). She was the first of nine children. She moved to the Lenox area as a child. On March 30, 1930, she married Eldon Paul Jones in Corning. She worked at the Lenox Cleaners, was a homemaker and cooked for the Lenox Rotary Club in Lenox for several years. She was a member of the United

Methodist Church and American Legion Auxiliary.

Survivors are son John E. "Jack" (wife Jerry) Jones of Lenox; brothers Charles of Des Moines, Donald of Alburnett and Bill Reed of Lenox; grandchildren Tim Jones of Washington State; Jackie Bryant and Jody Read, both of Kansas City, Mo.; Gail Wilkor of Creston; Cathy Bissell of Corning; Lee Ann Johnson of Corning; Lynn Phillips of Prescott; and 15 greatgrandchildren.

Preceding her in death were husband Eldon Paul Jones and daughter Jeanett Lea Phillips; her parents; three sisters and two brothers.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday January 4, 1995

 

Kirby, Lawrence Clyde -

Funeral services for Lawrence Clyde Kirby, 98, were held Tuesday, Nov. 8, at the United Presbyterian Church with Rev. Alan Rusk

officiating.

Lawrence passed away November 6 at Clearview Nursing Home in Clearfield.

Casket bearers were Larry Lange, Richard Lange, Art Tapken, Bill Dougherty, Dean Frame, Mike Schaffer, and Dennis Cooper.

Honorary bearers were Duane Sobotka and Milo Smith. Organist was Roberta Lockhart, and vocalist was Linda Spring.

Interment was at North Fairview Cemetery in Lenox.

Memorials to Lenox United Presbyterian Church. Arrangements by Coen-Beaty Funeral Home.

Lawrence was born April 16, 1898, in Clarinda to William Kirby and Anna Mary Cree. He was married March 6, 1918 to Oma Winifred Brown, who died May 21, 1993.

Survivors include son Virgil (wife Dorothy) Kirby of Bedford; daughter Venita (husband Ernest) Schmidt of Hot Springs, Ark.; nine

grandchildren, 23 greatgrandchildren and 14 greatgreat grandchildren; sister-in-law Grace Selders of Lenox; bother-in-law Marvin

(wife Bernice) Brown of Branson, Mo.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Oma in 1993, daughter LaVon Lange, brothers Earl and Guy, sisters Eva and Mary, grandson Joseph Kirby, and sons-in-law Otto C. Lange and Leonard Sobotka.

Lawrence was a member of the Lenox United Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed time spent farming and caretaking flowers, and he

loved the rural aspect where he could spend time with his neighbors.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday November 23, 1994

 

Maudlin, Avis Bertha Olney -

Funeral services for Avis Bertha Maudlin, 86, of Sharpsburg were held Friday, October 21, at Wilson-Watson Funeral Home in Mt. Ayr with Rev. Tim Maxa of the Lenox Presbyterian Church officiating.

Music was provided by Mrs. Malcolm Eighmy, Mrs. Robert Fisher and Mrs. Dan Cunning.

Casket bearers were Carroll Eugene Olney, Dale Olney, Duane Olney, Edmond Combs, Roger Olney and Joe Brammer. Honorary pallbearers were Dean Breach, Bing Miller and Melvin Pfander.

Interment was at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mt. Ayr.

Avis was born south of Mount Ayr on Dec. 4, 1907, to Carl and Maude Armstrong Olney. She graduated from Redding High School and the Iowa School of Beauty. [Died 18 Oct 1994]

She married Clarence Maudlin on July 3, 1932. They had no children.

Avis was a self-employed beautician and had a shop in her Sharpsburg home for many years. She enjoyed cooking and

sharing with others.

She is survived by three sister, Opal Motsinger of Creston, Vera Combs of Redding and Mary Parker of Mitchelville, Iowa; and brother

Carl Eugene Olney of Redding. Avis was preceded in death by her parents, husband Carl and two brothers, Clifton Olney and Robert Olney.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday October 26, 1994

 

Miller, Raymond Delbert (Mike) -

Raymond Delbert (Mike) Miller, born Dec. 1, 1902, died Oct. 2, 1994, at Mercy Hospital in Corning at the age of 91

years, 10 months and 1 day.

Funeral services were held Thursday, Oct. 6, at the United Methodist Church in Lenox with Rev. Robert Shreve

officiating. Music was provided by Kathryn Wilson, organist Flower bearers were Clytha Black and Gayle Hartman.

Casket bearers were grandsons Dan Miller, Tommy Miller, Rick Miller, John Miller, Jason Miller and Michael Miller.

Honorary bearers were Don Keast, Kenneth Black, David Bell, Lonnie Barker, Kevin Barker, Dennis Bunch, Charlie

Brown, Gerald Maharry and Bill Young. Interment was at West Fairview Cemetery in Lenox.

He was born in Mercer Township of Adams County to Frank and Katherine Schafroth Miller. He attended rural

school in Adams County and was baptized in the Methodist Church at an early age. On June 4, 1928, he was united in

marriage to Edith Nixon. They had six sons.

They farmed near Lenox until moving to the Afton area in 1949 for three years. They then moved to Des Moines,

where Mike worked for the Lenox Furnace Co. Edith died April 20, 1964, and Mike moved his family back to Lenox in 1967.

In August of 1977, he married Frances Clark of Creston. After returning to Lenox, Mike built fences and dug graves until

semi-retiring.

Mike and Frances enjoyed going to dances until 1987 and won several dance trophies.

Mike is survived by his wife Frances; his six sons, Donald (wife Jean) of Lenox, Dick of Ruthburn, Gail of Stuart, Allen of

Avoca, Edwin of Bloomfield, and Harlan (wife Joy) of Lenox; step-children Gene Clark (wife Judy) of Creston and Beverly

(husband Ron) Dahlberg of Rockford, Ill.; 21 grandchildren, six stepgrandchildren, 30 greatgrandchildren, 13 stepgrandchildren,

two great-great grandchildren; brother Frank Miller of Fairfield Bay, Ark. four sisters, Hazel Stoaks of Lenox, Lela (husband Bud)

Spoonemore, Wilma (husband Richard) Gray, Alberta (husband James) Bennett, all of Lenox; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife Edith; sisters Edna Starks and Margaret Kurtz; brothers Harrv,

Clyde, Albert, Homer and Lyle; and one great granddaughter.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday October 12, 1994

 

Norton, H A -

Funeral services for H.A. Norton, 94, were held Tuesday Oct. 4, at the United Methodist Church in Lenox with Rev. Robert Shreve officiating.

Music was provided by organist Kathryn Wilson. Casket bearers were Jay Norton, Kurt Jackson, Bryan Dorr, Butch Cox, Keith

Jackson and Ben Dorr.

Interment was at North Fairview Cemetery in Lenox.

H.A. Norton was born June 3, 1900, and was the eldest son of Mable Van Orsdel and John Norton. He passed away Sept. 30, 1994, at the Clearview Home at the age of 94 years, 3 months and 27 days.

He was born in Malvern, Iowa, and was raised in the Malvern community. He was united in marriage to Margaret Elizabeth Scott on Nov. 23, 1921, at Glenwood, Iowa. After their marriage they spent two years in White Lake, S.D. They returned to make their home

on a farm near Malvern until 1943 when they moved to a farm south of Lenox. In 1930, a son, Glenn, was born.

H.A. kept the records and saw to the upkeep of three Lenox cemeteries for over 30 years. He is survived by his son Glenn (wife Donna) of Lenox; three grandchildren, Glenna (husband Butch) Cox of Crescent, Jay (wife Dee) Norton of Lenox and Jan Dorr of Ellston; nine greatgrandchildren; brother Paul of Grand Island, Neb.; many nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday October 12, 1994

 

Schultz, Janice Dawn -

Memorial services for Janice Dawn Schultz, 59, were held Saturday, Dec. 3, in Community Presbyterian Church in Postville, Iowa.

Janice was born Jan. 1, 1935, at Frankville, Iowa, and passed away Tuesday, Nov. 29 in Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital in Decorah.

Survivors include her husband, John K. Schultz of Postville; children Kent J. (wife Karen) of Postville, Deanna Schultz of Waverly,

Iowa, Margaret (husband Todd) of Lenox, and Kirk (wife Nancy) of Urbandale; seven grandchildren, Michelle, April, Jeremiah and Danielle Schultz and Nathan, Drew and Kathleen Dawn Barker; four brothers, Randy (wife Helen) Russett of Eustis, Florida, Alan

(wife Elsie) Russett of Fairbank, Iowa; Don (wife Sue) Russett of Bloomington, Minn., and Keith Russett of Calmar, Iowa; sisters Laurie (husband Gerald) Stephan of Altura, Minn., Marilyn (husband Gary) Breitsprecher of Ossian, Beverly (husband Curt) Ruston

of LaCrosse, Wis., and Kathy (husband Allen) of Inver Grove Heights, Minn.; mother-in-law Mrs. Esther Schultz of Postville, and many other in-laws, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday December 14, 1994

 

Shimer, Effie Christina Boyer -

Effie Christina Shimer, 95, died Dec. 5, 1994, at the Clearview Home in Clearfield at the age of 95 years, 7 months and 20 days.

Funeral services were held Dec. 7 at West Fairview Cemetery in Lenox with Rev. Tim Maxa officiating. Casket bearers were Leonard Knott, Ted Gordon, Fred Scott, Joe Brammer, Bill Scott and Marvin Boyer.

Interment was in West Fairview Cemetery in Lenox, with Coen-Beaty Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Effie Christina Shimer, the daughter of Otis and Minnie Knott Boyer, was born April 15, 1899 in Taylor County. She

was baptized in the First Christian Church in Lenox and attended Taylor County schools. On August 19, 1916, she was united in marriage to Chester George Shimer in Bedford. One daughter, Marian, was born to this union.

The Shimers farmed in Taylor County all their lives except for three years in Adams County. Chester died Nov. 28, 1988.

Effie is survived by her daughter, Marian, and her husband Westley James Murrenus of Sharpsburg. She was also preceded in

death by her sister Mary.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday December 14, 1994

 

Wray, Florence Irene Moser -

Services were held for Florence Irene Wray Monday, October 31, 1994 at 10:30 a.m. at Salem Church of the Bretheren. Officiating were Rev. Elmer West and Rev. Roy Cook, Pastor of Salem Church of The Bretheren. Casket Bearers were; Ray Casey, Bill Stalder, Edwin Ramsey, Neal Hamilton, Ronald Rogers, Mervin Walter. Memorial, Salem Church Cemetery.

Florence Irene Wray, the daughter of Charles and Cora Johnson Moser was born May 13, 1903 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania and entered into rest October 28, 1994 at the Clearview Nursing Home in Clearfield, Iowa.

Florence was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania and attended school at the Manchester Academy in Manchester, Indiana. After

graduation she was united in marriage with Leo "Shorty" Wray in the home of Rev. Homer Caskey on March 10, 1926 in Lenox, Iowa. This

union was blessed with the birth of two children; Roland and Marilyn. She was active as a 4-H leader, a member of the Roseanne Auxiliary in Corning, the Salem Ladies Aid, Treasurer for the Lenox High School Band Mothers and a life long member of the Salem

Church of The Bretheren.

Surviving to honor her memory are her children; Roland (wife Patsy) Wray of Cunningham, Kansas, Marilyn (husband Olaf) Coffey of

Council Bluffs, Iowa, six grandchildren; Steve (wife Barbara) Coffey of Ashland, Nebraska, Suzanne Graalfs of Glenwood, Iowa, Tom Wray of Fairfield, California, Dan Coffey of Bellevue, Nebraska, Lorrie (husband Greg) Krewson of Flowermound, Texas, Jean

(husband Clark) Yoder of Iowa City, Iowa. Also surviving her memory are her eight great grandchildren; Bethanne and Kurtis Graalfs, Jeff and Jenna Krewson, Gabriel Yoder and Brenda, Sean and Lonnie Coffey.

Preceding her in death are her parents, her husband, Leo Wray in September of 1981 and a brother Curtis Moser.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday November 9, 1994