Claire and Mary (Sackett) Johnston

JOHNSTON, SACKETT, WALLACE, JONES, LAUER, VAN VLEET

Posted By: Peggy Elliott Webster (email)
Date: 2/7/2014 at 16:42:23

Claire and Mary Johnston spent all of their lives in Adair County. Mary L. was born February 2, 1906, the youngest of seven children born to Frank and Flora (Wallace) Sackett. Mary graduated from Greenfield High School in 1924 and received her teaching certificate on August 30, 1926. She taught in nearby country schools for several years.

Clare W. was born on July 26, 1906, the oldest of eight children born to D. Earl and Mable B. (Jones) Johnston. To help support his brothers and sisters, Claire started farming after the eight grade and did not attend high school.

Claire and Mary were married on April 27, 1929. In 1940 they purchased a farm six miles east and one mile north of Greenfield where they lived until their retirement in 1974. Upon retirement they moved to town and spent their remaining days at 408 SE Mills.

They were blessed with six children. Wayne passed away on November 9, 1958. Merle lives with his wife, Jeanette, in Arnolds Park, Iowa. They have two children Wanda Lauer lives with her husband, Duane, near Bedford, Iowa, and has six children. Donald lives with his wife, Verna, near Greenfield. They have three children. Iona Van Vleet lives with her husband, Richard in Des Moines, Iowa. They have two children. Bobby lives with his wife, Patsy, near Greenfield and has three children.

Claire and Mary enjoyed their family, church and community all of their lives. Claire passed away on June 7, 1993, and Mary Mary Passed away on February 1, 1998. Both are buried with son Wayne in the Greenfield Cemetery.

Submitted by Iona Van Vleet
Source: Adair County Iowa Sesquicentennial Edition 1851-2001