Carolyn Eleanor (Moore) GRUMMITT

GRUMMITT, MAELLER, MOORE, ANDERSON, SHARRY, SWENSON, STIEFFATHER, PHILLIPS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/11/2008 at 21:50:47

Carolyn E. Grummitt, 83, Belmond, died January 6, 2008 at the Belmond Medical Center following a brief battle with cancer. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Belmond with Father Chris Podhajsky and Deacon Nick Schmit officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery at Boone. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at Andrews Funeral Home in Belmond and will continue from 9 to 9:45 a.m. at the funeral home Thursday. There will be a Rosary service at the funeral home at 5 p.m. Wednesday and a Prayer Service followed by a time of sharing at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Carolyn Eleanor, the daughter of James and Josephine (Maeller) Moore, was born March 30, 1924. She lived for a short time in Maynard before moving with her family to a farm near Oelwein. She was baptized April 20, 1924 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hazelton. She attended Stanley area schools. On December 1, 1945 Carolyn married Clarence E. Grummitt in Fayette County following his return from military service. They operated a dairy farm at Arlington for 23 years. In addition, Carolyn was a lifelong home maker, devoted wife, and nurturing mother. She and Clarence strived to instill the values of hard work, determination, perseverance, and a strong faith in their five children. They made sure that the kids attended catechism at Strawberry Point every week and would occasionally reward them with ice cream on the way home. The couple also enjoyed the many athletic and extracurricular activities of their children. After 23 years on the dairy farm they moved to Olewein. They earned their hotel-motel management certifications and moved to Clarion where they operated the Evans Kay Motel for eight years. Carolyn furthered her education by taking courses at Eagle Grove, attaining a license to sell insurance in Iowa. Following retirement they moved to Boone for seven years and then to Ogden for seven years until Clarence died in December 2000. She then moved to Belmond. Carolyn will be remembered as a gentle yet strong lady who was very dedicated, determined and disciplined. She was a meticulous seamstress, making many clothes for her children and doing handicrafts such as quilting. She had wonderful gardens, enjoyed restoring furniture, watching RFD-TV, and enjoyed special times with family and friends. She had a lifelong love of music and made sure her daughters learned to play the piano. She and Clarence enjoyed old time music and in earlier years looked forward to dancing the polka. She enjoyed collecting dolls and evenings playing solitaire. Carolyn enjoyed a trip to Italy. She was always active in her church and was a member of St. Francis Xavier, the Catholic Daughters of America, and various quilting groups.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother Norbert; and and sister Eva Moore. Carolyn is survived by her children James (Mary) of Big Spring, TX, Dennis (Brenda) of Clarion, Rita (Steve) Anderson of Clarion, Diane Sharry of Virginia Beach, VA, and Mary (Dennis) Swenson of Poplar Bluff, MO; siblings Marion Stieffather of Valders, WI, Burton Moore of Hazelton, Beatrice (Delbert) Phillips of Jesup, and Joseph (Annette) Moore of Cedar Rapids; 13 grandchildren; and many great grandchildren.

©Belmond Independent 2008
January 9, 2008