ENGLAND, Kathryn Joyce (SMITH)
MYERS, SMITH, ENGLAND, ELSTON, RICHARDSON, JOHNSON, COZAD, ALLEY
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/19/2015 at 22:00:57
Leon Journal-Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, IowaObituary ~ Kathryn Joyce (Smith) England
December 08, 1948 ~ December 11, 2014Kathryn Joyce England, age 66, of Davis City, Iowa, the daughter of Kenneth Gayle and Betty Lois (Myers) Smith, was born December 8, 1948, in Leon, Iowa. She died at the Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa on Thursday, December 11, 2014.
Kathy graduated from Lamoni High School in 1967. That summer she was crowned Leon Rodeo Queen. She participated in rodeos competing in barrel racing, pole bending, and steer roping. She enjoyed helping her dad with his livestock. The first year after graduation, she attended modeling school in Kansas City. After completion, she moved to Des Moines and met Robert Michael England. They were married February 9, 1969. They were blessed with daughter, Kelly. The couple divorced in 1976. In 1978, Kathy met Ronald Jerry Elston, which started a 27-year relationship. Kathy operated a hair salon in their home for a short time. She attended Southwestern Community College in Creston, Iowa and obtained her LPN degree. They were blessed with daughter, Renee in 1984. Kathy worked at the Lamoni Nursing and Rehab Center for nine years before starting private home health care for about ten years. She was still taking care of others after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was always thinking of others before herself.
Kathy and Ron enjoyed bow and gun hunting both deer and turkey together. She also enjoyed gardening, sewing, driving her car, and attending farmer’s markets. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and all the family and going to church with her granddaughter, Shira. Halloween was her favorite time of year and she loved dressing up as a witch. She loved her horses, her dog Jake, and her cat Sniper.
Preceding her in death were her dad, Kenny Smith in 2000; husband, Ron Elston in 2005; brother, Craig Smith in 2013; aunt Lou Richardson in 2007; and uncle Harold Dean “Shorty” Myers in 1978.
Survivors include her mother, Betty Smith, and companion, Les Johnson, of Lamoni; daughters, Kelly and Terry Cozad of Weldon, Iowa and Renee Elston and Aaron Alley of Davis City, Iowa; four grandchildren, Teran Cozad, Bryce Cozad, Shira Alley, and Rilee Alley; brother, Doug Smith and wife Paula of Lamoni; nieces and nephews; and other relatives and many friends.
Services were conducted at 10 a.m. Monday, December 15, 2014 at Slade-O'Donnel Funeral Home with Pastor Jodi Rushing and Elder Bill McElroy officiating.
Interment was made at Davis City I.O.O.F. Cemetery.
Slade-O'Donnell Funeral Home of Leon and Lamoni was in charge of arrangements.
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2015
Decatur Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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