STAFFORD, Harry Earle 1930 - 2012

STAFFORD, BASHAW, MEADE, EDGETON, ANDERSON, EDMISTON, HUBBARD, SMITH, SACKLEY

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/24/2012 at 15:58:37

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Monday, August 20, 2012
Page 6

Harry Earle STAFFORD

Harry Earle STAFFORD, age 82 of Fairfield died at 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17, 2012, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City from complication of surgery.

Harry Earle STAFFORD was born June 24, 1930 in Harvard, Illinois to H. Earle and Mildred (BASHAW) STAFFORD. On March 31, 1954 he married Sonya MEADE STAFFORD in Tucson, Ariz.

He owned and operated Stafford Shoes, first with his dad and then his wife for 38 years.

He attended Wentworth Military School in Lexington, Mo., and the University of Illinois.

He was a member of the United States Navy at Great Lakes (sic - Naval Training Station, Waukegan, IL).

He was a charter member and past president of the Harvard Jaycees and received the Jaycees Distinguished Service Award for his work on starting the Harvard Rescue Squad. He was president of the rescue squad twice. He was a Master of the Harvard Masonic Lodge and a member of the Tebala Shrine. Harry was a Boy Scout leader for many years and vice commissioner of Little League Baseball. He was deputy coroner of McHenry County for 25 years and served on the board of the Harvard Police Commission.

Harry was a member of the American Legion. He was precinct committeeman of Chemung Township I for eight years.

Upon the closing of the shoe store in 1985, he worked for McHenry County Building and Zoning and Independent Inspection Services.

He was on the board of directors of Mt. Auburn Cemetery for 16 years and was secretary of the cemetery for six years.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Harvard for more than 50 years and served as an elder. He was on the City of Harvard Zoning and Planning Board as chairman. He and Sonya recently moved to Fairfield, Iowa, and became members of the First Presbyterian Church in Fairfield.

Harry had a great love of the Heavans and to prove it he received a certificate for sky diving in 2000. He parasailed twice while on vacation in Mexico and received his pilot's license for having soloed in a Cessna 152 in 2004.

He enjoyed his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, flying, traveling and going out for coffee with his buddies.

He is survived by his wife Sonya (MEADE) STAFFORD; his daughters, LeAnne (Jim) EDGETON of Fairfield, Iowa and Sally (Paul) ANDERSON of Houston, Texas; eight grandchildren, Karin (Brendon) EDMISTON, Ryan STAFFORD, Kim (Cory) HUBBARD, Joseph STAFFORD, Kristin (Cole) SMITH, Marissa STAFFORD, Jim (Adena) EDGETON and Jon EDGETON; eight great-grandchildren, Hailey, Melody, Melissa and Hope EDMISTON, Olivia and Addison HUBBARD, Noble SMITH and Khy EDGETON. He also is survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Jeff STAFFORD in 2007, an infant daughter, his sister Lois and brother-in-law Edward SACKLEY.

The memorial service will be at First Presbyterian Church in Harvard, Illinois, at 2 p.m. Wednesday, August 22, and at 10 a.m. Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church in Fairfield, Iowa.

Inurnment will be in Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Harvard, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church in Harvard or Fairfield.

Arrangements are in the care of Raymond Funeral Home in Fairfield, Iowa.

Online condolences may be sent to www.raymondfuneralhomes.com.

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

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