Durell, Barbara Ann (ROSS)
ROSS, DURELL, HAGEN, DALE, FEURING, PERKS, CORLL, GRIMM, WHITE, JONES, CHRISTOFIS
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 6/18/2017 at 04:50:54
Obituary ~ Barbara Ann (Ross) Durell
December 29, 1932 ~ June 05, 2017Leon Journal-Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, IowaBarbara Ann Durell, age 84, of Leon, Iowa, the daughter of Dewey and Leota Mae (Hagen) Ross, was born December 29, 1932, at Blythedale, Missouri. She left this life on Monday, June 5, 2017, at her caregiver’s home south of Leon, Iowa.
Barbara attended her first years of school in Blythedale, Missouri. The family moved to Leon where she continued school, graduating high school in 1950. Barbara played the position of guard on the Leon Girls Basketball team in high school. Her senior year was the third year Leon had a girl’s basketball team. That year they won the county tournament, sectional tournament, and took fourth place in the district tournament. During high school she grew very close to a classmate, James Daniel Durell. After a horse broke Jim’s arm, Barb helped him get through typing class their senior year. Barbara was a typist with the journalism class. After high school, Barbara worked in Des Moines for a short time, along with her soon to be sister-in-law, Rowena Dale. Then Barbara returned to Leon to work in the Decatur County Bank and the Decatur County Hospital. Jim and Barbara were married on September 3, 1953, in Des Moines, Iowa, while Jim was home on leave from the United States Army. After his honorable discharge a year later, they made their home in rural Leon. They were blessed with three children, Sharon, Michael, and Daniel.
After the children were in school, Barb worked at the Soil Conservation Office in Leon for a number of years before starting at the Decatur County Department of Human Services. Later she also worked for Ringgold County Department of Human Services. She spent her first few months of retirement in 1995, healing a broken leg after reaching for a pop can out the car door. She and Jim enjoyed traveling the United States. She also gardened in her free time and was known for her angel food cakes.
Barbara accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior while attending the Leon Brethren Church. Barbara and Jim were instrumental in seeing that their children attended regularly and came to know the Lord also through their example. Barbara spent many evenings reading the Bible with her children. Over the years Barbara was very active in the Leon Brethren, Leon Bible, and Calvary Baptist Churches. Barbara was a loving sister, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, too.
Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Jim, on April 29, 2014; daughter, Sharon Durell on February 28, 2015; brother, Avery “Jack” Ross; sisters, Ruth Feuring and Faye Perks and husband, Ray; sister-in law, Rowena Ross, brothers-in-law, Marvin Corll and Donald Grimm.
Survivors include her sons, Mike and Charletta Durell and Dan and Toni Durell, all of Leon; eight grandchildren, Jordan & Tiffany Durell, Lucas Durell, Marci & Nathan White, Daren & Megan Durell, Lindsey & Jeromey Jones, Ben Durell, Rachel & Jimmy Christofis, and Nick Durell; eight great grandchildren, Evan and Mason Durell, Loralie, Silvie, and Lincoln White, Remington, Booker, and Thea Christofis, and three more on the way; siblings, Everett Ross of Westview Acres, Leon, Iowa, Wendell & Judy Ross of Colfax, Iowa, Peggy Corll of Leon, and Shirley Grimm of West Des Moines, Iowa; many nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held at the Slade – O’Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, Iowa at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, June 8, 2017, with Rev. Max Carmichael officiating. Burial will be in the Leon Cemetery, Leon, Iowa.
Slade - O'Donnell Funeral Home of Leon and Lamoni handled arrangements.
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, June of 2017
Decatur Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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