Wava Mary (Cooper) STATE

STATE, COOPER, KEELING, PAULSEN, SHOWALTER, LLEWELYN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 11/28/2009 at 20:34:52

Wright County Monitor, Clarion, Iowa
November 26, 2009

Wava Mary State, 88, of Clarion, passed away Friday, November 20, 2009 at Careage of Clarion. Memorial services were held Monday, November 23rd at the United Presbyterian Church, Clarion, with Pastor Bill Kem officiating. Inurnment was held at Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion.

Wava Mary (Cooper) State was born July 15, 1921 at the home of her parents, Noah "Dick" Cooper and Bertha (Keeling) Cooper in Grant Township. Wava went to school in Grant Center, then at Belmond and finally in Galt, where she graduated from high school in 1939. She went to work in Des Moines doing defense work during the war. She also worked at Boyat Harness and later at the Clarion A&P. On February 14, 1945, at her parent's home in Dows, Wava married Myron State. To this union were born three children: Myra, Gary and Scott. The family lived and farmed south of Clarion until Myron and Wava moved to town in February 1976. In March of 1999, Wava became a resident of the Meadows Retirement Community. Wava was an active member of the United Presbyterian Church, CERES Circle, various circles and clubs, and as a volunteer for the Wright Medical Center Gift Shop.

Wava is survived by two sons: Gary (Terrie) of Imperial, Nebraska; Scott (Shirlee) of Sulphur Springs, Texas; one son-in-law, Roger Paulsen (Carol Showalter) of Belmond; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and other family members and friends. Wava is preceded in death by her parents; husband Myron on June 21, 1981; daughter, Myra in November 2002; one sister, Evelyn Llewelyn; and three brothers, Bluferd, Wilbur, and Russell.