GAFFNEY, Mary Etta: died 1976

GAFFNEY, KINSINGER, BLETZER, EVANS, ZEITLER

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 10/17/2020 at 18:45:14

Mary Gaffney

Mary Etta Gaffney, daughter of Phillip and Emma Kinsinger Bletzer, was born May 18, 1901, on the family farm southwest of Milton, Iowa, and died July 22, 1976, at the Davis County Hospital at Bloomfield, Iowa.

August 11, 1921, she was united in marriage to Dean Gaffney at the Methodist parsonage in Bloomfield, Iowa. To this union was born four children, Norris of Memphis, Mo., Mrs. Jeanne Evans of Des Moines, Iowa, Mrs. Norma Zeitler of Douds, Iowa, and Jerrold of Barneveld, Wisc.

Dean and Mary resided in Northeast Mo. and Southeast Iowa the first few years of their married life, and have lived the past 40 years at the home farm southwest of Milton.

She joined the Methodist Church early in her life and was a member of the Martha Circle. Mary devoted her time to her family, garden and flowers.

August 11, 1971, Mary and Dean celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at their farm home.

She was preceded in death by her parents, four sisters, two brothers, and one granddaughter. She is survived by her husband, Dean, sons, Norris and wife, Thelma of Memphis, Mo., Jarrold and wife Nancy of Barneveld, Wisc., daughters, Mrs. Jeanne Evans and husband, John of Des Moines, Iowa, and Mrs. Norma Zeitler and husband, James of Douds, Iowa, 16 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Services were held July 25, 1976, at 2 p.m. in the United Methodist Church at Milton with Rev. Herbert DeMello officiating. Music was furnished by Mrs. Ann Luther and vocalist, Dr. Harlo Donelson singing, "Beautiful Isle Of Somewhere" and "Whispering Hope".

Pallbearers were grandsons Fredrick Zeitler, Dr. James Zeitler, Rodney Zeitler, Alan Gaffney, Philip Gaffney and Mike Evans.

Burial was in the Sunnyside Cemetery.

Source: "The Hazel Stanford Obituary Collection", Pg. 76, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA