JEMISON, Maurice Searl: Died 1983

JEMISON, EWING, KREISS

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 10/20/2021 at 09:24:48

**Handwritten: 24 Feb Register

Maurice Jemison

Maurice Searl Jemison, age 77, a native and long time resident of Keosauqua died Thursday, Feb. 17, 1983, at Mahaska General Hospital in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Maurice was born in Keosauqua on Nov. 24, 1905 to Oscar and Anna Ewing Jemison. He attended Keosauqua schools and married Edith Deborah Kreiss, also a Keosauqua native, on May 28, 1926 in Mount Pleasant. To this union were born four sons: Retson, Carl, Marion and Larrie. His devoted wife and four sons survive him as does a brother, Harold of Keosauqua.

During his years in Keosauqua Maurice was a vital part of the community, participating in sports and many other community activities. He was an active participant in the development and construction of the original ball park. He worked quietly and well within the community to present such events as the Centennial celebration in 1939. His heart was devoted to this community and to America. He labored for his livelihood over mud roads as a route driver for the Southeast Iowa Cooperative Creamery Association for many years, bringing to his family a modestly comfortable living and a proper upbringing for his children. When World War II thrust itself into all Americans' lives he deemed it his duty to enter the service of his country in her defense. Enlisting in the Seabees defense in December, 1942, Maurice served well throughout the Southwestern Pacific theatre as a Carpenter's Mate Second Class with the 53rd Naval Construction Battalion.

Upon returning to Keosauqua in 1945, Maurice worked for a time as a self-employed electrician before joining the Oskaloosa based Sparks Construction Company to convert the old Southeast Iowa Coop butter print plant to the Keosauqua Light plant that now serves this community so well.

Because of his abilities as a builder, Maurice was invited to join the Sparks Company in Oskaloosa, moving his family there in the Spring of 1950.

He worked there until his declining health forced his early retirement in 1969. Even then he found lighter part-time work to occupy his busy hands and mind. Maurice was an ardent gardener, spending much of his later years in the tending of a large garden, several fruit trees and helping his neighbors with their yards.

Maurice experienced far more health problems in his final years than most, but he kept battling back and winning until last Thursday.

Preceding him in death were his father and mother, Oscar and Anna, brothers Carl and Phil, and sister Irma.

Maurice will be sorely missed by his survivors: wife Edith; four sons: Retson, Carl, Marion, and Larrie; his brother Harold; 12 grandchildren, and his many friends in Keosauqua and Oskaloosa.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Feb. 19, 1983 at Pedrick Funeral HOme(err) in Keosauqua, with Rev. Bob Patterson officiating. Interment with military honors was in Purdom Cemetery at Keosauqua.

Source: "Scrapbook 1981 - 1985", Pg. 127,
Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, Van Buren Co., IA