GRAHAM, Helen Lovina (BURK)

BURK, GRAHAM, SHOEMAKER, HUBBARD, HALLIBURTON, HULL, KING, EBLEN, ISTAS, SPIRE, GREEN

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 8/4/2016 at 01:21:32

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

OBITUARY ~ HELEN LOVINA (BURK) GRAHAM
December 30, 1914 ~ April 17, 2002

Helen Lovina Graham, daughter of William Edward and Emma Ellen Shoemaker Burk, was born Dec. 30, 1914, in Mount Pleasant and died April 17, 2002, at the Mount Ayr Health Care Center. She was 87.

She married Arno Graham on Dec. 6,1932, in Unionville, Mo. They raised 10 children and a grandchild while living on the farm south of Murray. After moving to Osceola, she was employed at The Family Table Restaurant until she retired in 1977. She continued to work part time at various restaurants. Later in life Mrs. Graham moved from Clarke County to Clearview and Mount Ayr.

During her early years on the farm she liked to garden, can and help with the dairy farm. She was well-known by her family for her homemade bread and cinnamon rolls. Her grandchildren called her the “chicken noodle grandma.” In later years she enjoyed traveling and watching country music shows.

She was a member of the Four Square Bible Church in Osceola where she was baptized.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers; former husband, Arno Graham; son Ronnie Graham and two daughters-in-law, Donna Graham and Vickie Graham and a great-grandson, Steven Hubbard.

Mrs. Graham is survived by four sons, Henry Graham and Billy Graham and his wife, Rhonda Graham, all of Loveland, Colo., Dean Graham and his wife, Donna Graham, of Osceola and Donnie Graham of Garden Grove; five daughters, Ruby Halliburton and her husband, Kenny Halliburton, of Sturgeon, Mo., Arnolene Hull and her husband, Lyle Hull, of Mount Ayr, Shirley King and her husband, Dennis King of Loveland, Colo., Carolyn Eblen and her husband, Don Eblen, of Creston, Patsy Istas and her husband, Dick Istas, of Loveland; a granddaughter, Betty Spire and her hsuband, Bill Spire, of Conception Junction, Mo.;

Other survivors include 26 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Fern Burk of Fairfield; a special friend, Orville Green of Osceola; other relatives and friends.

A graveside service was held April 22 in Maple Hill Cemetery at Osceola for Mrs. Graham. Pastor Dwayne Henrichs of Thayer officiated. Casket bearers were Don Eblen, Dick Istas, Larry Halliburton, Dennis King, Bill Spire and Dick Hall. Kale Funeral Home of Osceola was in charge of arrangements.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2016