Gauley, La Reta 1932-2008

GAULEY, WILSON, RUPP, VAN GENNEP

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 3/26/2011 at 09:50:16

Smith Funeral Home (Grinnell, Iowa) Online Obituaries

LA RETA GAULEY

La Reta was born the daughter of John Rupp, Sr. and Phoebe Wilson Rupp on October 7, 1932, near Hartwick, Iowa. She was raised on the family farm and held a special love for the animals. She graduated from Searsboro High School with the class of 1950.

She was united in marriage to Melvin Gauley on September 28, 1953 at the United Methodist Church in Montezuma, Iowa. To this union was born their son Dennis. Following their marriage, she worked at Midwest Manufacturing and One Minute in Kellogg. The couple moved to Oskaloosa in 1972 and she managed the Oskaloosa Motel. Later she worked at the I-80 Restaurant and then the Star Inn Restaurant in Victor. After a battle with bone cancer in the early 1980's she became a homemaker.

La Reta was an excellent cook who canned much of her homemade ingredients from the garden. She looked forward to their annual trip to Florida and La Reta would gaze out of the RV window taking in the beauty of the countryside and the wildlife. She collected cards and sent them to relatives and friends on their special occasions. She often enjoyed being outdoors, whether it was camping, watching cardinals, or picking mushrooms.

La Reta is survived by her husband of 54 years, Melvin Gauley of Grinnell; her son, Dennis (Barbara) Gauley of Ankeny, Iowa; her brother, John (Leah Mae) Rupp, Jr. of Grinnell; and her sister, Doris (Ronald) Van Gennep of Kellogg, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society or to Camp Sunnyside.