SPEAR, Edna Carolyn (1934-2012)

SPEAR

Posted By: Don Boucher (email)
Date: 11/6/2012 at 09:01:24

Obituary from The Des Moines Register newspaper, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, USA on 11-6-2012:

Edna C. Spear Lester was born on Nov. 27, 1934 to Cyril Duane and Mable Elizabeth Spear in the Whitebreast Township of Warren County, IA. Edna walked to Burgess elementary school south of the family home until she transferred to Liberty Center, where she graduated from high school in 1952. After graduation she spent one year at Iowa State University before she moved home to marry Larry Guy Lester.

On March 18, 1954, Edna married Larry at Green Plain Methodist Church near Liberty Center, IA, where both of their families were members. They rented a house and farm on U.S. 65 highway, where they lived when Lacey and Kerry were born. In 1957 they moved to the former home of Lathette Lester, Larry's grandfather, on a 400-acre farm known as the "Ranch," where they lived for nearly a decade during which Lee Anne and Chris were born. In 1967 the family moved to the house she and Larry built where they raised their family and Larry still lives.

Edna spent the early years of her marriage raising her four children and taking caring of Larry. She later took a job at Williams Pipeline in Truro, followed by several years as a secretary in the administrative office at Southeast Warren High School. Later she went to work in Des Moines in the Human Resources Department at Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical School, where she worked until she retired.

She was on the Warren County 4-H Council board for many years and was a co-leader of the local Liberty Bells 4-H club. She had a passion for gardening, cooking, sewing, quilting and reading. All who knew her were able to share in her passions through the food she put on the table and the gifts she made for birthdays and holidays.

To this marriage were born four children: Lacey, Kerry, Lee Anne and Chris. Lacey and his wife Michaela of rural Indianola had three children: Brett (Staci) have one son, Austin; Robyn Marshall (Greg) have one son, Ethan; and Brian (Jen) have one son, Preston. Kerry and his wife Marlene of rural Indianola have one son, Keith. Lee Anne and her husband Larry Shiller of Zionsville, IN, have one son, Aidan. Chris and his wife Sharon of Kansas City, MO, have two children, a son Derek and daughter Caitlin.

Edna passed away on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012 at the Good Samaritan home in Indianola after a decade-long battle with Alzheimer's. Preceding her in death were her parents, Cyril and Mable Spear. Survivors include her husband of 58 years, Larry; and their children, Lacey, Kerry, Lee Anne and Chris and their spouses, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Additional survivors include siblings, Edith Henry (Merrill) of Indianola, Marvin Spear of Indianola and Janice Goode of Lacona and many other special family and friends.

Services will be held 10 a.m., Wednesday, November 7 at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola with burial following in the Liberty Center Cemetery. Visitation will be held 4 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, November 6 at Overton Funeral Home where family will be present from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer's research. Online condolences may be made at www.overtonfunerals.com .