Sears, Francene (Worthy) 1924-2003

SEARS, WORTHY, BRUBAKER, EBERT, TARANTINO, BOHNER, STANLEY, CLOYD, HANCE, RUDKIN, HUNZIKER, HOLLAND

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 10/17/2005 at 22:05:37

GRINNELL - Francene Sears, 79, of Grinnell died of congestive heart failure Wednesday, March 19, at Friendship Manor in Grinnell.

Graveside services and burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday at Chester Cemetery, north of Grinnell with the Rev. David Lull, professor at Wartburg Theological, Seminary in Dubuque, officiating. Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell is handling arrangements.

Friends may call from 5 to 9 p.m. today and 12-9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, where the family will be available from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Memorial contributions may be directed to Grinnell Regional Medical Center Intensive Care Unit or Cerebral Palsy.

The daughter of Herbert and Ellen Brubaker Worthy, she was born February 24, 1924, in Oskaloosa. She later moved to Grinnell and was a 1941 graduate of Grinnell High School. On June 4, 1941, she married Russell Sears in Kirksville, Mo. The couple farmed in Poweshiek and Jasper counties prior to moving to Grinnell in 1954. She was employed as a seamstress at Delong's Sportwear in Grinnell for 26 years and retired in 1972. She had been a resident of Friendship Manor since October 2002.

Survivors include four daughters, Carol Ebert of Grinnell, Barbara Tarantino of Newton, Judy Bohner of Blue Springs, Mo., and Linda Stanley of Shakopee, Minn.; five sisters, Marjorie Cloyd of Ottumwa, Vivian Hance of Pella, Charlotte Rudkin of Wichita, Kan., Adah Hunziker of Sully and Donna Holland of Galesburg, Ill.; a brother, Curtis Worthy of Burlington; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; and one great great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one son, Larry, two brothers, Keith and Robert Worthy, two sisters, Darlene and Arlene Worthy, one great-grandchild and one great great-grandchild.

The Newton (IA) Daily News, Saturday, March 22, 2003