Cleopha [Willis] Harness 1902-1992

WILLIS, HARNESS, CARRICO, RUGGLES, HUNT, CORDLE, HILL, HARTZER, UNGER, ANDERSON, HARTER

Posted By: Curtis (email)
Date: 5/10/2010 at 10:01:26

Obituary -

(Unknown Newspaper)

CLEOPHA HARNESS Cleopha, daughter of John and Della [Carrico] Willis, was born April 1, 1902, near Akron, Missouri, and died Sunday, February 2, 1992, a Lamoni Manor Nursing Home in Lamoni, Iowa. She was 89 years and 10 months of age.

She attended school in Akron and was affiliated with the Presbyterian church there.

On May 11, 1922, she was united in marriage to Oliver "Cy" Harness. They spent the first years of their marriage in Mississippi, later moving to Cuba, Missouri. In 1942, they moved to Davis City, Iowa. For the last four years, Cleopha has lived at Parkview Apartments in Leon.

Although Cleopha and Cy had no children of their own, in 1938 they took into their home three-year-old twins, Donald and Marilyn Ruggles, the children of Cy's deceased sister Edith. they raised them and loved them as their own.

Cleopha was a member of VFW Auxiliary, World War I Barracks, and was a member of the United Methodist Church in Davis City.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband Cy; daughter Marilyn Hunt; granddaughter Rebecca Hunt; three brothers, Loren, Clifton and Theora Willis; four sisters Leila and Delana Willis, Ina Cordle and Beatrice Hill.

She is survived by her son, Donald Ruggles, of Rolling Prairie, Indiana; one grandson, Clarence Oliver Ruggles; four granddaughters, Sheri Hartzer, Lori Unger, Cara Ruggles and Robin Anderson; three great-grandchildren, Ambra and Mitchell Harter and Paige Anderson; one brother, Wiley Willis and wife Virginia of Leon, Iowa; one sister, Grace Harness of Leon; several cousins, nieces and nephews; and lots of friends.

Cleopha was a warm, loving person and was devoted to her family. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her.

Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. February 5, 1992, at the United Methodist Church in Davis City, Iowa, with the Pastor Jeffrey Bowen officiating. Burial was in the Davis City Cemetery. Arrangements were made through the Slade-O'Donnell Funeral Home, Leon, Iowa. Memorial Fund - American Cancer Society, Decatur County Chapter.

(Contributed by Ola Madean [Emmons] Engle}