SCHOOL NEWS
| MUSCATINE COUNTY, IOWA SCHOOL NEWS | |
Transcribed, as written, by Beverly Gerdts on June 25, 2019Page 84
EFFIE ODELL ROCK During a visit with my mother over the week-end, I had the opportunity to also visit with Effie Rock and here is her story. The reason for the ICON is connected with her story. She was born in 1907 on Indiana Street in South-end. She had 5 sisters, Margaret Jensen; Lucy McKnight; Wilma Maher, Irene Miller and Leona Gray. All 6 of the girls attended Old Garfield stating from 1912-1918 for Effie.
During some spring floods of the Slough the only way they could get to school was that her father took them by row boat. This was confirmed by pictures she showed me. I know it sounds a little far fetched but it did happen.
Effie married Clarence Rock in August 1925 and they have 4 children. Merle; Loretta; Dorothy and Clarence. These 4 children attended Old Garfield. They also gave Effie 29 grandchildren; 47 great grandchildren and 5 great great grandchildren. She was a Girl Scout leader for 17 years, Sunday School Teacher for 30 years and was known as the Puppet Lady.
Now the reason for the ICON, on Effie's 90th birthday her grandchildren gave her a very unique birthday present. It was a large flat rock about 2 inches thick and it had 106 smaller rocks on it. These rocks represented all her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and the in-laws in the family. Her husband died in 1969. Many of us will remember the house that Effie lived in across from Blessing field. New Garfield was built on Blessing Field. Try walking across the plank without falling in the pond that was in her yard. Effie now lives at Hershey Manor in Muscatine. She supplied me with many articles for this booklet.