Long, Kathryne Elizabeth Beers – 1924-2016

BAILEY, BEERS, ELROD, HERWEHE, KOCH, LAMMEY, LONG, SULLIVAN, WILLIAMS

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:27

Kathryne B. Long, 92, of Prairie City, concluded her life of service on this earth Dec. 18, 2016. She crossed the river peacefully at home with family and her kitties close at hand. A family service is planned for 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 22 at Westover Funeral Home, 6337 Hickman in Des Moines. She will find her final resting place next to her father, John Beers, her mother, Hazel (Sullivan) Beers and her grandmother Adaline (Koch) Sullivan in Woodland Cemetery.
Due to the season and weather, no formal visitation will take place at this time. The family most heartily invites anyone wishing to honor Kay to attend a picnic pot luck honorarium Sunday, June 18 at Thomas Mitchell Park in Mitchellville, Shelter house #1, in the glory of nature that she loved so much.
Kathryne Elizabeth Beers was born Sept. 17, 1924. She was joined in marriage to Loren Long in the mid-40s. In high school she went to work for Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. and retired after 45 years in 1987, with honors, as an operator’s service assistant and trainer. She was a lifelong member of the Methodist church and demonstrated her love of God by giving countless hours of service to the Grace UMC choirs as a robe mother from the early 50s to the late 60s.
She was an accomplished pianist and vocalist and offered those talents freely, particularly to the Rebekah lodges and State Assembly where she has been a member for more than 70 years. She received the IOOF Decoration of Chivalry for her musical contributions. In 2006-2007, she served as Grand Matriarch of the Grand LEA of Iowa. In her spare time she crocheted hundreds of mittens for any child that needed them and lap robes for the ladies in rescue centers. She was totally devoted to her family and friends, always putting their needs above her own. She shared a home with her sister JonDee from the time of her birth in 1933, and only death parted them.
Those left with precious memories of Kathryne include but are not limited to sister, JonDee Beers, daughter Christile (Michael) Elrod of Mitchellville; granddaughters, Kohlyne (Dustin) Herwehe of Prairie City and Teri (Mathew) Williams of Independence; step-grandsons, Michael Jr. (Lynn) of Farmington, Minn., and Willie Elrod of Monroe; cousins, Pat, Steve, Tom and Lorena (Thullen) Bailey, extended granddaughter, Susan Lammey and her son Vince of Baxter; 10 great-grandchildren; and 4.5 great-great-grandchildren. The family would like to thank Mercy Hospice for their love and concern, especially Stacy Alliger, Chaplain Bobby Dickerson, Sheila Bills and nurse Tammy Lehman. Online condolences may be left at www.IlesCares.com.
Arrangements by Iles Westover Chapel.
Source: Prairie City (IA) News; Thursday, December 22, 2016, page 2