GARRITY, LeRoy Edward 1908-2003

GARRITY, KELSEY

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/4/2009 at 19:23:30

LeRoy Edward Garrity, age 92, of Jefferson, Iowa, died on Saturday, April 7, 2001, at the Long Term Care Unit of the Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, April 10, at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Jefferson. Father Donald Ries officiated and burial was in the St. Joseph Cemetery, Jefferson.

LeRoy was born on June 19, 1908 in Letcher, South Dakota to Thomas P. and Mary Agnes Garrity, the oldest of seven children. In 1912, he moved with his family by train to Franklin Township, Greene County, and later the family lived in the Bayard area. He attended country school, then in the 5th grade, entered the Bayard Community School and graduated from the Bayard High School in 1927. In 1927 the family again resided in Greene County, first in Franklin Township and then Greenbrier Township. He farmed with his parents and in 1952 purchased a farm near Osage.

LeRoy and Margaret Rowland Kelsey were married on February 13, 1954. They resided in Osage until both retired in 1972, Margaret from teaching and LeRoy from farming. They moved to Jefferson and built a home. In Jefferson, LeRoy worked part-time at Dick and Jim’s Hardware. He and Margaret spend 13 winters in Mesa, Arizona.

LeRoy was a member of the St. Joseph Church, a member of the KC’s since 1936 and also a member of the Midwinter Club. Both he and Margaret became residents of the Greene County Medical Care Center, Margaret in 1995 and LeRoy in 1997. Margaret died on February 26, 1999.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife; two brothers, Delos and Francis “Pete”; and a sister, Marie Koller.

Those that survive him include two step-sons, James Kelsey and wife, Joanne of Urbandale and Dick Kelsey and wife, Beverly of Darien, Connecticut; four step-grandsons, Thomas, Robert, David and Bryan Kelsey; two sisters, Madonna Kinsman of Jefferson and Marguerite “Margo” Garwood and her husband, Richard of Urbandale; one brother, Marion “Mike” Garrity and wife, Marjorie of Cary, North Carolina; a sister-in-law, Nora Garrity of Jefferson; and an aunt, Anabel Day of Jefferson; and nieces, nephews, and many other relatives and friends.

© 2001 Mitchell County Press - April 18, 2001