Anna Grace (Blesie) DEATON

DEATON, BLESIE, MITCHELL, CORYELL

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/28/2010 at 11:19:02

March 28, 2010
Des Moines Register, Iowa

Des Moines, IA -- Anna Grace Deaton, 94, passed away Thursday, March 25, 2010 at Wesley Acres in Des Moines. A Memorial service will be held at Wesley Acres on Sunday, March 28 at 2:30 p.m. with visitation beginning an hour earlier. Inurnment will be at Avon Cemetery.

Anna was born September 18, 1915 in Renwick, Iowa, the daughter of Henry and Marie Blesie. She graduated from Iowa State Teacher's College in 1938 with a BA degree in education. On December 7, 1948, she married Levi Deaton who preceded her in death in 1958. Anna taught in several public schools in central Iowa. For approximately twenty years she was a full time elementary school music teacher at Fairmeadows in West Des Moines and retired early to take care of her Mother. After that, she worked as an aid in the areas of library and special education. Later, she taught English as a second language. Recognizing the importance of music in people's lives, Anna formed chorus and bell groups in her community, enriching not only her own life, but those of many others. She was a member of chapter CJ PEO and Delta Kappa Gamma, a national women's society for educators.

Anna is survived by one sister, Bette Mitchell and her husband Herb of Naples, Florida. Also surviving are her son, Roger and his wife Joanne of Wadsworth, Illinois; their two children Levi and his wife Amanda, and Abbey of Chicago; her daughter Sandra Coryell and her husband James, of Decatur, Illinois; and fifteen nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers Edward, Laurence, Harold, and Bob, and one niece.

The family is deeply grateful to special friends Linda Zeiger, Kathy Lindgren Hansen, friends and staff of Wesley Acres, and West Des Moines United Methodist Church. Memorial contributions may be given to West Des Moines United Methodist Church Bell Fund or the Wesley Acres Good Samaritan Fund.