Cleone Bernice (Priest) Stamper (2022)

BOYD, CARPENTER, CARTER, DAUGHENBAUGH, JACKSON, LAWSON, PRIEST, SCHROEDER, STAMPER, WHITEHORN, WRIGHT

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 11/8/2023 at 18:02:52

Lamb Funeral Home
Greenfield, Iowa
November 2022

Cleone Stamper passed away on Saturday, November 26, 2022, at the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston.

Funeral Services: Will be held on Monday, December 5, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at the Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield with burial in the Greenfield Cemetery with a luncheon to follow at the Greenfield United Methodist Church. Preachers Kyle Bredesky and Shari Connelly will officiate the service. The Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield is in charge of the professional. Online condolences may be left to the family at lambfuneralhomes.com.

Family Visitation: The family will greet friends on Sunday, December 4, 2022, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield.
Memorials: Memorials may be directed to Cleone Stamper Memorial Fund to be established by the family at a later date.

Cleone Bernice Priest Stamper, daughter of Earl and Irene(Lawson) Priest, was born at home in rural Shannon City/Arispe, Iowa on March 29, 1930. She was a miracle from the beginning, the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck four times. The doctor frantically unwrapped the cord so our mom could survive. Throughout our mom’s life she was a strong fighter, surviving so many health issues that others have succumbed to. She fought until the end but the ravages of a UTI that developed into sepsis was more than she could overcome but she valiantly fought until the end hearing her beloved family telling her how much they loved her and what an amazing, loving, kind, wonderful mom, grandma and great grandma she was. She passed away at the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston.

Cleone was the fourth child of Earl and Irene’s six children. She attended country schools in Union County, then Arispe. She graduated from Arispe High School with the class of 1948. She then attended Southwest Community College in Creston. During her college years she became friends with Virginia Stamper. Through that friendship Virginia arranged a blind date with her cousin Jack Stamper. Jack and Cleone fell in love as they had met the love of their lives. Jack and Cleone were united in marriage on June 29, 1952. To this union four children were born; Jackie, Randy, Debbie and Roger. Cleone’s first teaching job was at Zion Schools. Then Cleone accepted a teaching position at Greenfield Schools during the time Jackie was very little. After Randy was born Cleone decided to be a stay-at-home wife, and mother. Jack and Cleone purchased their first farm together during that time as well. Their first farm is where Jack and Cleone farmed together. During that time Debbie was born and then Roger. Jack and Cleone moved their family to another family farm after Roger was born.

Cleone was an amazing, strong, active lady continuing her education at Drake University in Des Moines while juggling farming, children, running a household, and teaching at Earlham Schools. She graduated from Drake in 1967. Her children can still picture her walk across the stage at her graduation from Drake.

She taught at Earlham for 25 years until her retirement in 1990 at the age of 60. Cleone was an amazing, loving, kind, compassionate, wonderful teacher. She was so very loved and cherished by all of her students throughout her years of teaching at all three schools during her life. Her students were in contact with her through various means all through the years. Cleone knew the names of all her students immediately on each class’s first day of school. She never forgot a name or face of any of her students. What an incredible mind she had. Sadly, at the age of 57 Cleone became a widow suddenly when her beloved husband, Jack passed away on December 21, 1987. Her strength, character, love, and faith kept her strong to carry on teaching, loving and caring for her family, and the family farms. Cleone faced so many sudden heartbreaking family issues with her strength, faith and love, during her teaching years. Her youngest son, Roger, became gravely ill with cancer and she continued on. The tragic car accident of her daughter, Debbie at only 19 and her precious first grandchild, Shannon’s death, and still Cleone amazingly soldiered on. Debbie was critically injured in that accident and wasn’t expected to survive. Cleone was by Debbie’s side throughout the long road of survival and recovery, the same way she was there for the surgeries, cancer treatment and long road to recovery for her son, Roger before.

Jack and Cleone raised their four children with much love, compassion, and so much fun and humor. They traveled as a family together on wonderful trips, camping along the way throughout the United States.

Cleone had a great love of music, and she taught herself to play the piano and organ. After retirement, Cleone wanted enrichment and socialization by taking organ classes. When her children were young, they would all sing with Cleone playing the organ, enjoying the family time together.

Cleone traveled extensively after her retirement, visiting many venues worldwide. Cleone also loved her cats, nurturing many from her farm back to health along that way. She enjoyed the nature on the farm for many years.

Cleone was a woman of strong faith and her favorite verses were contained in Ephesians 4. Her walk with God is best captured with 2 Timothy 4:7
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Cleone was preceded in death by her parents, her first precious 13 month old granddaughter, Shannon, her beloved husband Jack, her brothers, Daniel Priest and Dorphan Priest, and her sister, Elaine Carter. She is survived by her children, Jackie Whitehorn (DeWight) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Randy Stamper (Karen) of Greenfield, Iowa, Debbie Boyd of Winterset, Iowa, and Roger Stamper (Elaine) Greenfield, Iowa, grandchildren, Shane Boyd (Annie) of San Clemente, California, Justin Boyd of Harlan, Iowa, Ashley Boyd (Josh) of Winterset, Iowa, Erik Whitehorn (Evelyn) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Bethany Whitehorn of Denver, Colorado, Jack Stamper (Samantha) of Greenfield, Iowa, Jennie Stamper (Tyler) of Fontenelle, Iowa, three step grandchildren, Sabrina(Danny) Wright, Bedford, Iowa, Melisa Schroeder(Jon) Newton, Texas, Vanessa Jackson(Tyler) Lenox, Iowa, great- grandchildren Olivia, Addison, Bennett, Matthew, and Lincoln Boyd, Stephanie, Katelyn, and Danielle Boyd, Cael Boyd Daughenbaugh, Sidney, Josephine, and Isaac Whitehorn, and Ryan and Melody Stamper, 13 step great grandchildren. Sister, Betty Carpenter (Rich) of Dubuque, Iowa, brother Jerry Priest (Virginia) of Kansas City, Kansas, plus, nieces, nephews, and many other relatives and friends.

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