Archie "Leland" SAVILLE

SAVILLE, MEKEMSON, FULLERTON, KNAPP, JAMES, LARSEN, STEPHENS, SWANSON, KOBBE, SHIELDS, MARTIN, BRISTOL

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 7/22/2011 at 00:44:06

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa

OBITUARY ~ ARCHIE "LELAND" SAVILLE

Archie Leland SAVILLE, eldest son of George and Nettie MEKEMSON SAVILLE, was born on a farm near Redding, Iowa on Jan. 8, 1903. He was killed in an automobile accident Oct. 31, 1983 at the age of 80 years.

He attended country school and graduated from Delphos High School at Delphos, Iowa in 1923.

On Nov. 25, 1925 he was united in marriage with Zanita Margaret FULLERTON of Redding, Iowa. To this union was born three children: George Lewis, Eva Winifred KNAPP, and Pearl Elnora JAMES.

Leland was actively engaged in farming in the Redding area for more than 50 years. In 1980 they moved to a home in Mount Ayr, Iowa, but his ties with farming remained very strong.

He was a member of the Middle Fork Church in his early years and later a member of the Redding United Methodist Church where he faithfully attended services.

He was a member of the Taylor Lodge #156 A.F. and A.M., formerly Bethany Lodge #320 of Blockton.

Leland was interested in community activities and attended most of them. He enjoyed school functins and sporting events. Proud of his grandchildren, he was a strong supporter of events and activiities in which they participated. He was a frequent visitor of friends in their homes, the hospital, and nursing homes.

On the day of his death, he greatly enjoyed being able to visit with his sisters and several close relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Chester; a sister, Jeannette, who died in early childhood; a brother, Henry SAVILLE of Atlantic, Iowa; one grandson, Terry Lee JAMES of Bethany, Missouri, and one brother-in-law, Ted LARSEN of Atlantic.

Surviving are his wife; his children; one daughter-in-law, Dorothy SAVILLE of Redding; sons-in-law, Richard KNAPP of Mount Ayr and Jimmy JAMES of Bethany, Missouri; also his 14 grandchildren; Sally STEPHENS of Bellevue, Nebraska, Dennis SAVILLE of Kremling, Colorado, Martha SWANSON of Mount Ayr, Neil SAVILLE of Laramie, Wyoming, Timothy SAVILLE of Mount Ayr, Linda SAVILLE of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Richard Lee KNAPP of Redding, Charles KNAPP of Mesa, Arizona, Mark KNAPP of Boston, Massachusetts, Ben KNAPP of Mount Ayr, Cheryl KOBBE of Boston, Massachusetts, Margaret SHIELDS of Fort Dodge, Iowa, Jerry JAMES and Michael JAMES of Bethany, Missouri, three grandsons-in-law; one granddaughter-in-law; eight great-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.

He is also survived by his brothers, Lloyd SAVILLE and his wife Mildred of Mount Ayr, Keith and his wife Betty of Fresno, California; his sisters, Bernice LARSEN of Atlantic, Iowa, Annabel BRISTOL of Stuart, Iowa, Ethel MARTIN of New Providence, Iowa; a sister-in-law, Hazel SAVILLE of Atlantic, Iowa; many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at Wilson-Watson Funeral Home in Mount Ayr, Iowa on Thursday, Nov. 3, 1983. Officiating was Rev. Ed KAIL. Musica was by Mark KNAPP and Joe SHIELDS.

Casketbearers were Neil SAVILLE, Dennis SAVILLE, Timothy SAVILLE, Jerry JAMES, Charles KNAPP and Richard Lee KNAPP. Burial was in the Redding Cemetery. Masonic Rites were conducted by Taylor Lodge #156 A.F. & A.M.

My Grandpa

His body was short and small.
But to me he never seemed like a small man at all.
His skin from the weather seemed to me as tough as leather.
His attitude it seems was never down.
Upon his face I never knew a frown.

He was with much love a family man,
Always there to lenda helping hand.
Seems to me he always kept in mind God's great plan.
He was a man who invented the word toil.
I knew he will be proud to be at rest in God's soil.

As my Grandpa knew,
As life goes on within you.
It must also go on without you.
The round red sun each evening
still slowly sets in the west.
And as the autumn leaves till fall from their trees.
And as the birds still fly to and from their nest,
My Grandpa I come to find out is now suddenly at rest.

I would like to say as good friends go -
God knows Grandpa - he was the best.
He is the only grandpa I ever knew.
Now that his life on this earth is through
There really isn't much that I can do.
But to say, "Grandpa as grandpas go
I am very, very proud to say
I had YOU!!"

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, July of 2011