Dora E. [Hall] Lewis 1921-2011

HALL, LEWIS, WARRICK, MCBROOM, MCCONNELL, BRIERLY, HAGEN, FRY, WOOSLEY, GRIMM, SMITH, HAGEN, MELBIE, KIRKPATRICK

Posted By: Curtis (email)
Date: 9/9/2011 at 11:57:34

DEATH NOTICE:

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa August 31, 2011)

LEWIS, Dora E., 90, of the Decatur and Clarke Counties area, died on Saturday, August 27, 2011. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 1, 2011 at the Slade-O'Donnell Funeral Home in Leon with Pastor Fred Jones officiating. Burial will be in Van Wert Cemetery, Van Wert, Iowa.

A memorial fund has been established by the family.

Obituary -

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa August 31, 2011)

DORA E. LEWIS ... Dora E. [Hall] Lewis, daughter of Al Cain and Nora [Warrick] Hall, went to be with her loved ones in the beyond, August 27, 2011. Dora was born at home west of Van Wert, Iowa with twin brother, Ora, March 2nd, 1921.

Dora was married to John T. Lewis, December 15th, 1938. To this union was born, Connie Elaine and Dennis Dwayne. Together Dora and John helped raise nephews, Ron McBroom and Dannie McConnell and great nephew, John Brierly McBroom.

Dora and John lived and farmed all their lives in Decatur and Clarke Counties, except for a short period of time working in Minnesota and Polk County.

Dora worked hard all her life, farming beside John, as a factory worker, raising a big garden, canning, and helping with all the livestock.

She always enjoyed spring as new life came into the world. She loved to see the baby calves, lambs, pigs, and chicks as they ran and played.

After moving off the farm, she liked to take car rides down unexplored country roads to see the new farm animals and how the crops were doing. She and John liked to camp. They attended many Blue Grass Festivals and even took their grandchildren with them to enjoy the music and camping.

Dora played the harmonica and guitar. She attended the Hopeville Music Reunion nearly every year. She was raised with music and played mostly by ear. She was very pleased her two older great grandchildren, Cassie and Austin, play guitars.

After John Passed in 2003, she and brother, Art, spent a lot of time together. They took drives in the country, visited family members, and went to the Senior Center for lunch ordinarily every day.

She made many trips to Alabama with Ron and Ginny McBroom to visit sister, Lela and to Conrad, IA to visit sister, Irene. In 2009, her dream to ride Amtrak was fulfilled when she took a trip to Chicago and back to Osceola with daughter, Connie, and friends LaVonne Herndon and Elaine Simmerman. A visit to Shedd Aquarium completed the trip.

Dora, being from a family of 14, always saw family and extended family as very important. She was delighted to have company. All her nieces and nephews knew they were always welcome at Aunt Dora's, as well as many children, who called her Gramma Dora.

Dora was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John, of 64 years; foster son, John Brierly McBroom; granddaughter, Christina Hagen; and all 13 siblings, brothers, Bill (Corda), Rolly (Nellie), Lawrence (Dorthea), Milburn (Gladys), Ira, Art (Irene), and Ora - sisters, Wilma (Bill) Fry, Irene (Ted) Woosley, Olive Mcconnell, Lela (Clell) McBroom, Ruby (Marvin) Grimm, and Susan, in infancy; parents-in-law bill and Ruth Lewis; brothers-in-law Reese, Russell (Florence), Robert (Belva), and Leland; and sisters-in-law Francis (Elbert) Smith and Irene (Art) Hall.

Left to mourn her are her children Connie (Jim) Hagen and Dennis (Carolyn) Lewis; grandchildren Candy Melbie, Kim (Dan) Kirkpatrick, and John II (Rebecca) Lewis and great grandchildren Cassie and Austin Melbie, Drew Kirkpatrick, and Logan and Ember Lewis; sisters-in-law Margaret Hall, Sylvia Hall, Dorothy Lewis, Jeanette Fry, and Waneta Lewis; also special nephew, Ron (Ginny) McBroom and Special neighbor and friend, Lavonne Herndon; a great many nieces and nephews; and many, many friends.