Norris E. Gaffney 1922-2015
GAFFNEY, BLETZER, MEINHARDT, GRUBB, EAGER, WILLIAMS, RAFFERTY, ZEITLER, EVANS
Posted By: Volunteer - Rich Lowe
Date: 8/8/2015 at 08:41:10
Norris Edwin Gaffney, 93, of Memphis, MO, died peacefully in his sleep at the Scotland County Care Center on July 22, 2015. He was born March 31, 1922, in rural Milton, IA, to Dean Carl and Mary Etta Bletzer Gaffney. He was raised in southeast Iowa and northeast Missouri until the family settled at the Gaffney home place near Milton in the 1930s. Norris was unable to continue his education beyond country school because he had to help on the farm due to his father’s health.
He met Thelma Darlene Meinhardt at the Milton roller skating rink in 1940 when she was visiting her parents who had recently moved to the farm next to Norris' grandmother. They were married December 5, 1943, at the Luray Methodist Church.
In 1944 he was drafted into the U.S. Marine Corps. After training at Camp Pendleton, CA, he was sent to Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands. On Okinawa, he was shot in the leg and then was injured when he was blown out of a foxhole on the day before the island was taken. Norris recuperated in Guam and Hawaii. He was discharged from the service in Oakland, CA, where Thelma met him upon his return to the United States.
After the war, they moved to the farm northwest of Memphis where they lived and farmed for 54 years. There they raised their four children, Karen, Sue, Alan, and Philip. In 2000 they purchased a home in Memphis and moved to the city. Norris continued to check on his cattle as long as they were located close to home.
His career as a Hereford cattleman began as a 4-H member when he showed registered Hereford cattle at the Davis County and Iowa State Fairs. At the Iowa State Fair, he had the Champion Hereford Heifer in 1939 and the Reserve Champion Hereford Steer in 1941. He also won two trips to the National 4-H Club Congress in Chicago. This was the start of over 70 years of raising registered Herefords. He sold bulls, breeding heifers and club calves all over the United States. On his 90th birthday he gave his grandson Ryan the registration papers for his last two Herefords, telling Ryan to raise Herefords for the next 70 years. His two sons and grandson continue to raise the breed.
Norris served as a member of the North Liberty Rural School Board and later the Scotland County R-1 School Board where he served as member, secretary and president. He was also a member and secretary of the Northeast Missouri Hereford Association for many years and a founding member of the Scotland Country Rural Fire Association which he served as secretary for 41 years. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Memphis, a 4-H leader for Consolidated Boosters 4-H Club and in 1965, the family represented Scotland County at the Missouri State Fair.
He is survived by Thelma, his wife of over 71 years, and their four children: Karen (Russell) Grubb, Hannibal, MO; Sue (Jim) Eager, St. Louis, MO; Alan (Phyllis) Gaffney, Milton, IA; and Philip (Sandra) Gaffney, Milton, IA; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren also survive him: Amanda (Andy) Williams, Elora and Katelyn, Cheyenne, WY; Tim (Julie) Eager, Claire and Sammy, Niskayuna, NY; Daniel (Allison) Grubb and Amelia, Minneapolis, MN; Becky (James) Rafferty, Molly and Maggie, Albuquerque, NM; Leslie Eager, Carrboro, NC; Brett (Erin) Gaffney, Mt Juliet, TN; Kristen Gaffney, Council Bluffs, IA, and Ryan Gaffney, Milton, IA. He is also survived by his sister, Norma (James) Zeitler, Douds, IA, and his brother, Jerry (Nancy) Gaffney, Barneveld, WI; Thelma's brother and sisters-in-law, Deane (Rovene) Meinhardt, Mertice Meinhardt and Joyce Meinhardt all of Kahoka, MO, plus many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Dean and Mary Gaffney and his sister, Jean Evans and her husband John.
A meal was enjoyed by all the family being accommodated in the hospitality area at Payne's provided by the Presbyterian Church ladies before the visitation and services that were held Saturday afternoon, July 25, 2015, at Payne Funeral Chapel in Memphis with Mr. Leroy Huff officiating. Harlo Donelson sang accompanied by Ann Luther. Interment followed at South Prairie Cemetery in Van Buren County, IA, with military graveside rites provided by the Wallace W. Gillespie V.F.W. Post #4958 of Memphis and two from the Missouri Military Honors program.
Pallbearers were grandsons and nephews: Tim Eager, Brett Gaffney, Ryan Gaffney, Fred Zeitler, Jim Zeitler, and Scott Gaffney. Honorary pallbearers were Daniel Grubb, Mike Evans, Rod Zeitler, Mark Evans, Matt Zeitler. Andy Williams and James Rafferty.
Arrangements were entrusted to the care of the Payne Funeral Chapel in Memphis.
Source: Van Buren Register; Keosauqua, IA; 30 Jul 2015
Van Buren Obituaries maintained by Rich Lowe.
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