Laura Frances Turner Okey
TURNER, OKEY, CRIPPEN
Posted By: Marlene Skalberg (email)
Date: 2/15/2012 at 18:38:27
Laura Frances Turner Okey was born in the northwest section of Corning, Iowa. December 12, 1885 to Mary Crippen Turner and Austin Beecher Turner. She died December 13, 1979 at Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Coming.
She graduated from the Corning Academy in 1901 and from Wilson College, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania in 1905.
After her mother's death she kept house for her father and younger brothers. She was active in the Presbyterian Church, teaching Sunday School classes and playing the organ for the church services, until 1926 when she transferred her membership to the Corning Methodist Church.
In 1926 she was married to Frank Clifford Okey and they lived in his parental home until after his death. In 1963 she moved into the brick house just north of this home. She later gave this house to the Methodist Church and it is used for a second parsonage. In 1973 she moved to the P.E.O. Retirement Home in Mt. Pleasant. Iowa. She was a 74-year member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. She was the last of a family of nine brothers and sisters, and is survived by one sister-in-law, eighteen living nieces and nephews and their families.
She has always been most generous and has helped with many local projects. She had a keen interest in education and contributed to many colleges. In 1964 she established the Okey Educational Loan Fund, a revolving fund for graduates of Corning and Prescott high schools, to help further their education in a trade school or college. Ninety-two young people have used this fund to date.
In 1928 she rebuilt the local Public Library in honor of her parents and has contributed much toward the new rebuilding and enlarging library project.
She will be missed by her many friends and relatives.
Funeral services were held at the United Methodist Church in Coming December 15 at 1:30 p.m. with Rev. Roy Hjelmaas and Rev. Brown Gar lock officiating. Interment was in Walnut Grove Cemetery. Corning.
Adams County Free Press, December 20, 1979, page 6
Adams Obituaries maintained by Kathy Parmenter.
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