Avis Leona Finnie (1904-2009)
FINNIE, JOHNSON
Posted By: Nevada Journal
Date: 6/19/2009 at 20:51:24
THE NEVADA JOURNAL, Nevada, Story County, Iowa, Thursday, June 18, 2009.
Avis Leona Finnie, 105, passed away on June 15th, 2009. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, June 20, at 11 a.m. at the Bethany Lutheran Church in McCallsburg, Iowa. Visitation will be two hours prior to services. Burial will be at the McCallsburg Cemetery.
Avis dedicated her life to church, family and helping others. She was born Avis Leona Johnson on April 23rd, 1904, in McCallsburg, Iowa.
She graduated from McCallsburg High School in 1924, where she played basketball, sang in the choir, and played violin in school plays and various music events, including a seven-piece dance band.
After high school, Avis attended Kennedy's School of Beauty Culture in Des Moines. Upon completion, she was asked to become a teacher and remained to teach for three more years.
In 1928, Avis married Wade Finnie, a barber. Together, they worked for many years in beauty and barber shops around Central Iowa.
When World War II came along, Avis and Wade took jobs at the ordinance plant in Ankeny, Iowa making bullets. From there they traveled across America and worked in other war-material facilities.
Following the war, Avis and Wade returned to Des Moines where Avis trained as a key punch operator, and worked at Employers Mutual Insurance Company, where she stayed until retirement in 1969.
When Wade passed away in 1967, Avis and her cousin Fern shared an apartment for the next twenty years. When the apartment building was sold, the cousins both relocated and Avis stayed close to her family and friends in apartments in Des Moines. In 1996, she moved to Colonial Manor in Zearing, where she lived for her remaining years. She appreciated the loving care and made many friends at the manor. She always participated in the many activities at the manor and recently celebrated her 105th birthday there by releasing 105 balloons.
Avis had no children but leaves behind many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband Wade, parents, Lewis and Anna Johnson, and her five brothers, Al, Ed, Lawrence, Mick and Carroll.
Avis loved animals, cats in particular. She would also visit sick relatives and friends to whom she provided encouragement to get better and a gentle caring hand. She was an inspiration to everyone who knew her and will be missed and remembered by all of us.
Fredregill Funeral Home in Zearing, Iowa, is in charge of funeral arrangements.
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