Obituaries
submitted by: Julia Johnson - julia.johnson63@gmail.com
 
[Baughman, Clay]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday      January 14, 1937      p. 2

Conway Locals

Henry Burge, Mr. and Mrs. W. [illiam] C. [laire] Burge and Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Burge attended funeral services in Diagonal Tuesday afternoon of Clay Baughman, a nephew of Mr. Burge.

[Burk, Lucinda Lasswell Hibbs]

Bedford Free Press

Thursday     January 2, 1908     [p. 1]

Obituary.

Miss Lucinda Lasswell was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, Dec. 24, 1825. When two years of age she moved with her parents to Sullivan county, Ind., where she lived until she was eighteen years of age. While living there she united with the Church of Christ, under the ministry of John Bailey.

In 1847 the deceased was united in marriage to Jonathan Hibbs, and they moved then to Coles County, Ill., where she lived four years. They then moved back to Sullivan county, Ind., where she lived until the death of her husband which occurred in 1857. To this union three children born were, Jesse, Elizabeth and Julia. Jesse died before his father and all preceded their mother.

In the fall of 1857 she moved to Taylor county, Iowa, and in the fall of 1859 she was again united in marriage with Moses W. [alker] Burk. To this union four children were born, Leana, Sylvanus, Charles W. and Wm. J., all of whom survive their mother. They moved from Taylor County to Kansas and from there to Oklahoma, where she was again left a widow in July 1894. She then returned to Taylor County where she has since lived with relatives until she departed this life at the home of her only surviving sister, Mrs. Rosanna Oxley, at 7:20 p. m., Sunday, December 29th, 1907. Deceased was a member of a family of nine children, of which one sister and three brothers, survive her, Mrs. Oxley, and Jesse, John and Benjamin Lasswell. She was a member of the organization of the Church of Christ known as the Berea congregation, south of Bedford, in which she retained membership and faith in Christ until death. The funeral was held Tuesday, conducted by Elder Wm. Cobb. The sympathy of the entire community is extended to the bereaved.

 

[Chapman, Agatha Louisa Young]

Bedford Times-Republican

Thursday      July 15, 1909     p. 5

Agatha L. Chapman

Agatha Louisa Young was born in New York City, Feb. 6, 1840. She was married to Justus E. Chapman May 2, 1858. She united with the church in her early life and has been a model of patience and had unbounded faith in God.

She has been a devoted mother and exemplary Christian. She was the mother of twelve children of whom nine survive her, three sons and six daughters. She died July 6, 1909. The funeral services were held at the home of her son near Conway, Saturday, July 10, conducted by the pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church. The body was taken to East Concord, Minn., where interment took place.     S.

 

[Dougherty, Evelyn Naomi Cameron]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     February 8, 1962     p. 4

DIES IN CALIFORNIA

Pete Dougherty of Gravity received the word last week of the death of his sister-in-law, Mrs. Seymour [Russell] Dougherty [Evelyn Naomi Cameron] in Palmdale, California.

 

[Dunlavy, Mary Ellen Burge]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday       August 9, 1951      [p. 1]

Hold Gravity Rites For Mrs. Dunlavy

Mrs. Mary [Ellen Burge] Dunlavy, 94, long time resident of Gravity, died in Sterling, Col., Aug. 5, where she had made her home for many years.

Graveside services were held at the Gravity cemetery at 10 a.m. Aug. 9, with Rev. Evan Routh as the officiating minister. Gravity chapter, Order of Eastern Star, of which Mrs. Dunlavy was a charter member, gave the service at the grave.

[Dunlavy, Mary Ellen Burge]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday       August 16, 1951      p. 2

CONWAY

Attend Services

Mrs. Orda [Ellen] Hess and Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Burge attended the graveside

 [Dunlavy, Mary Ellen Burge]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday       August 16, 1951      p. 3

Obituary - Mrs. Mary Dunlavy

Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunlavy, 93, died August 5 in her home at Sterling, Colo., after an illness of 15 months. She had been bed-ridden since she fractured her hip in May of 1950.

Mrs. Dunlavy was born August 27, 1857, in Gravity, the daughter of Elizabeth [Ellen Morehouse] and William D. [ale] Burge. She was married in February of 1878 to Rev. William Dunlavy, pastor of the Gravity Christian Church.

Mr. and Mrs. Dunlavy moved to Alvin, Tex., in 1893, and in 1899 moved back to Gravity. It was there that Mr. Dunlavy died on October 28, 1915.

Mrs. Dunlavy moved to Sterling In 1921.

She la survived by a son, [Oliver] Ortus Dunlavy of Sterling; two daughters, Mrs. E. [rnest] F. [loyd] Wagner [Grace] and Mrs. Roy [William] Hanna [Osa], also of Sterling.

A brother, G. [eorge] H. [arlan] Burge, lives in Gering, Neb.

Services were held Tuesday, August 7, In the Christian church at Sterling. Burial was Thursday, August 9, at Gravity, with graveside services conducted by Rev. Evan Routh, pastor of the Christian church at Bedford. The Gravity Order of Eastern Star gave its burial service at the grave.

[Francis, James Smith]

Adams County Free Press (Corning, Iowa)

Thursday     August 11, 1949      p. 8

James S. Francis

James S. [mith] Francis of Gravity, publisher of the Gravity Independent weekly newspaper for the past 42 years, died at his home there at 10:30 a. m. Monday. Mr. Francis was a former resident of Union County and had taught in the rural schools of the county and in the Kent school before moving to Gravity.

Funeral services will be at the Methodist church in Gravity at 2 p. m. Wednesday, Rev. D. C. Callison, the pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the Gravity cemetery. His body will lie in state at the church from noon to 2 p. m. Wednesday.

James S. [mith] Francis was born and grew to manhood on a farm in the Kent vicinity. He taught several years in the Union county rural schools and was principal of the Kent school for two years before moving to Gravity 42 years ago.

Surviving are his widow, the former Mary Coen [Coan] of Creston; a daughter, Mrs. Scott Cramer [Georgina] of Chicago, Ill.; a granddaughter, Jeanette [Ann] Cramer of Chicago; three brothers, C. [harles] J. and A. [lfred] R. Francis of Creston and George Francis of Kent; and a sister, Mrs. R. X. Smith [Anna] of Okmulgee, Okla.

services of their aunt, Mrs. Will Dunlavy [Mary Ellen Burge] at Gravity Friday.

 

[Francis, James Smith]

Gravity Independent

Thursday     August 18, 1949    [p. 1]

James S. Francis, 75, Many Years Editor of The Independent, Passed Away At His Home Here Aug. 8

JAMES SMITH FRANCIS

-OBITUARY-

James Smith Francis, the son of Alfred and Georgina Jane Davidson Francis was born September 27, 1873 on the old home farm south of Kent, Iowa, and passed away at his home in Gravity, Iowa, on August 8, 1949 at the age of 75 years, 10 mos. and 11 days.

He was the seventh of 10 children.

He received his education in a country school near Kent. Later he attended Highland Park College in Des Moines, Iowa.

On August 1, 1906 he was united in marriage to Mary Coan of Creston, Iowa. Into this home one daughter, Georgina was born.

James Francis acted as superintendent of the Kent school for one year. During this period his wife taught the primary class. When a young man he united with the Prairie Star Presbyterian Church, a country church his mother and sister, Mary, organized.

In the month of June of 1907 he purchased the Gravity Independent Newspaper. He and Mrs Francis have lived in Gravity since and have published the paper for 42 years.

When he moved to Gravity he transferred his membership to the Methodist church and has worked faithfully in the Church for 60 years and has acted as teacher of an adult Sunday school class for 50 years.

James Francis sang tenor in many quartets; he acted in any other capacity in the church when requested, if possible. He served on the school board for twenty years, on the city council several years, in the lower house of the State Legislature in 1919 and 1921.

He was voted into the Masonic Sunrise Lodge 459 in the year of 1916. He was very much interested in the work and served in the different offices.

One of his outstanding qualities was his broad knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. He supported all enterprises that improved community life, always giving liberally of mental and financial assistance.

James Smith Francis was preceded in death by his parents, four sisters and one brother.

He is survived by his wife, one daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Scott Cramer of Chicago, Illinois, and one granddaughter, Jeanette Ann; one sister, Mrs. Anna Smith of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, three brothers, Chas. J. and Alfred R. of Creston, and Geo. C. of Kent and many nieces and nephews other relatives and a host of friends.

James Smith Francis will be greatly missed in our community, in the church and by his many friends he has served so faithfully through the years.

Funeral services were held at the Methodist church Wednesday at 2 p. m., Rev D. C. Callison officiating. The singers were Mrs. Pink Gold and Mrs. Frank Bordner with Mrs Callison as pianist. Mrs Paul Greeley, Mrs Elmer Brown, Mrs. Iona Heninger and Mrs L. T. Reed arranged the flowers. Casket bearers were six nephews of the deceased; Paul, LeRoy, Raymond and Donald Francis, Ralph Tripp and Gene Lucas. Interment was in the Gravity cemetery.

 

[Holsapple, Scott]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     February 13, 1986    p. 6

Death of Scott Holsapple reported

Services for Scott Holsapple, 20, formerly of the Blockton area will be held Thursday, Feb. 13 at 10:30 a.m. at Shum-Novinger Funeral Home.

The family requests memorials to the Christian Church at Pawnee Rock, Kansas.

 

[Larabee, Beverly Ola Beal]

Bedford Times-Press

Wednesday      January 24, 1996      p. 8

BEVERLY OLA LARABEE

Mrs. Beverly Larabee, 58 of Clarinda died Sunday morning, January 14, 1996 at her home in Clarinda.

She was born March 29, 1937 to Arlie and Marie Kent Beal. She was married to Kenneth Dale Larabee. He preceded her in death in 1966. She had worked at MHI in nursing service.

Mrs. Larabee is survived by six children: Jerry Dean Larabee, Adams, NE; Josephine Goetz and husband Robert, Clarinda, IA; Larry Lee Larabee, Fremont, NE; Charles Daniel Larabee, Siam, IA; Jeffery Scott Larabee, Coin, IA; Arlin Edward Larabee, St. Paul, MN; 12 grandchildren; one great grandchild; sisters Arleata Umphenour, Beatrice, NE and Agnes Hemmingway, New Berlin, WI.

She was preceded in death by parents, husband and daughter Wanda [Kaye].

Funeral services were held Wednesday, January 17, 1996 at Walker-Merrick Funeral Home with Rev. Richard Iske officiating. Burial was in Siam cemetery.

 

[Miller, John Duncan]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday      September 28, 1933       p. 7

hopkins

Pioneer Dies

John [Duncan] Miller, 74, died unexpectedly Wednesday at his home in Hopkins. Funeral services were held at the home Tuesday afternoon. He is survived by his widow, five daughters, Mrs. Pearl Goodwill of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Mrs. Nora Greer of Clarkston, Wash.; Mrs. Nellie Henderson, Mrs. Vira Smith and Mrs. Irene Stone, all of Wenatchee, Wash.; two sons, Lawrence Miller of Council Bluffs, and James Miller who is with the reforestation camp in southern Missouri. There is also a sister, Mrs. W. C. Herbert of Hopkins.

[Miller, Leanah Burk]

Adams County Free Press (Corning, Iowa)

Thursday      August 18, 1949      p. 11

Mrs. John Miller

Leanah Burk Miller was the oldest daughter of [Moses] Walker and Lucenda [Lucinda Lasswell Hibbs] Burk. She was born in Ross Township, Taylor County, Iowa, May 27, 1861, was 88 years, 2 months and 16 days old. She united with the Christian church when a young girl. May 19, 1881, she was united in marriage to John D.[uncan] Miller, who preceded her in death September 20, 1933. To this union were born nine children, of whom four preceded her in death. The remaining ones to mourn her death are Mrs. A. [rdin] B. Goodwill [Pearl], Prescott, Ia.; Mrs. W. [illiam] O. Greer [Nora], Clarkston, Wash.; James Miller, Seattle, Wash.; Mrs. Harry Smith, Wenatchee, Wash.; Mrs. E. [arl] J. [ennings] Stone [Grace Irene Miller], Bedford, at whose home she died August 12, 1949. There were 21 grandchildren, 31 great great grandchildren. Funeral services were held at Swanson’s Funeral Home at Hopkins, Mo., Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock, by Rev. Ben Sinderson of the Christian church of Bedford. Interment was at Hopkins cemetery.

 

[Miller, Leanah Burk]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday      August 18, 1949     p. 5

Mrs. John Miller Dies Here Friday

Mrs. John Miller [Leanah Burk] of Hopkins died at the home of her daughter and husband, Dr. and Mrs. Earl J. [ennings] Stone [Grace Irene Miller] in Bedford, Friday afternoon, August 12.

The funeral services were held at the Swanson Funeral Home in Hopkins Saturday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Ben W. Sinderson of Bedford. Burial was in the Hopkins cemetery.

 

[Scroggie, John William]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    December 9, 1998    p. 5

John W. Scroggie

John W. [illiam] Scroggie, age 71, of Ravenwood, Missouri passed away December 3, 1998 at St. Francis Hospital in Maryville, Missouri.

John was born to George Washington Scroggie and Maggie May Schafer on July 1, 1927 and was a lifelong area resident of Ravenwood.

On May 6, 1950, John was united in marriage to Zeta Christina Hopkins in Maryville, Missouri.

He was a self-employed truck driver for 28 years. John belonged to the Hopkins First Christian Church in Hopkins, Missouri.

John was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Charles Scroggie (died earlier this year) and two stepsisters, Inez and Opal.

Survivors include his wife Zeta Scroggie of their home in Ravenwood; four daughters, Gloria Burns, Platte City, MO; Denise Wallace, Hopkins, MO; Twila Swinford, Maryville, MO; and Carla Schmitz, Parnell, MO; one son, Ronald Scroggie, Ravenwood, MO; 18 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren; two sisters, Jennie Webb, Phoenix, Arizona and two brothers, Robert Scroggie, Bedford, Iowa and Jesse Scroggie, Arizona; sister in law, Beatrice Scroggie, Blockton, Iowa; nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held at Price Funeral Home Chapel in Maryville on Monday, December 7, 1998. Burial at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Maryville

 

[Shrimpton, Alvin Charles]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     December 6, 1984     p. 6

Alvin Shrimpton burial at New Market

Services for Alvin Charles Shrimpton, 51, were held November 28 at the United Methodist Church in Deloit, Ia., officiated by Rev. Jim Gubser. Burial was at Memory Cemetery near New Market, with full military honors. Mr. Shrimpton died November 25, 1984 at Veterans Hospital in Omaha, Ne.

Alvin Charles Shrimpton was born on January 23, 1933 at New Market, Iowa, the son of Forest and Viola Parsons Shrimpton. Alvin was raised by his grandparents due to the early deaths of his parents. He completed his education in the Bedford, Iowa Schools. He was employed for a time with a Bedford auto dealer. After serving in the Army during the Korean conflict, he returned to Iowa. For more than 23 years he was employed with the Husker News Company. In 1979 he moved to Denison where he was employed with Farm Service Coop.

On April 25, 1981, Alvin was united in marriage to Viola Mathies Riley at the United Methodist Church in Deloit. Together they made their home in the Denison area.

Survivors include his wife Viola of Denison, two sons, Douglas Shrimpton of Atlantic, and Elvin Shrimpton of Exira, Iowa and one daughter, Sonia Shrimpton of Denison. Also surviving are two stepsons, Rick Riley of Deloit and Joe Riley Jr. of Storm Lake and one stepdaughter, Lesa, Mrs. Tom Lewis of Griswold, Iowa, one grandchild, four step grandchildren, of Clearfield, Iowa and two brothers, Marlin Shrimpton of Clearfield, Iowa and Lyle Shrimpton of Atlantic.

[Spencer, Ruth Naomi Croy]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     November 29, 1984     p. 6

Graveside services held for Ruth Croy Spencer

Graveside services for Ruth Croy Spencer, 66, former Bedford resident, now of Florida, were conducted by Rev. Carl Cummings Friday, November 23, 1984 at Fairview Cemetery. Her husband and son were here for the inurnment.

Mrs. Spencer died November 15, 1984 at Humana Hospital North Side, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Ruth Naomi Croy Spencer, daughter of Thomas O. [scar] Croy and Sylvia Snyder Croy was born December 3, 1917 at Bedford, Iowa and grew to maturity in the Bedford community where she attended both rural school and Bedford High School.

On March 6, 1936 she was united in marriage to Glen A. [rlin] Spencer at Albany, Missouri and they lived in Colorado for two years and returned to Bedford to farm for a time before moving to Buffalo, N.Y. where they lived until February 1976 when they moved to Florida, where they continued to reside. In addition to being a homemaker she was employed by the Greater Buffalo Press for several years.

One son, David E. Spencer was born to bless their home and to share their love.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Glen A. [rlin] Spencer; her son, David E. Spencer and his wife Carol and two grandchildren, Karen and Jeffrey all of Clearwater, Fla.; a brother, Glen Croy of Buffalo, N.Y. and other relatives and friends.

She was a member of the Baptist Church for over 50 years.

She was a kind and considerate wife and mother and she will be missed by all those who knew and loved her.

 

[Spencer, Ruth Naomi Croy]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     December 6, 1984     p. 6

Here for Spencer services

Those from a distance attending funeral services for Ruth Spencer were Glen Spencer, Clearwater, Fla.; David Spencer, Clearwater, Fla.; Mrs. Merrill Chilcote, Mrs. Gary Chilcote, St. Joseph, Mo.; Mrs. Major Lewis, Denver, Co.; Mr. and Mrs. Ron Spencer and family, Belton, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Spencer, Kansas City, Mo.; and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Latta and family, Maitland, Mo.; and Mr. and Mrs. Don Glass, Comanche, Ia.

 

[Straw, Israel Samuel]

Gravity Independent (Gravity, Iowa)

Thursday      August 28, 1941      p. 2

Israel Straw

Funeral services for Israel Samuel Straw, Afton retired farmer who died Friday at the age of 79, were held Monday at the McGregor Bros. and Coen's chapel in Creston, at 1:30 p. m.

Mr. Straw died at the home of a son, Vern Straw of Spaulding, following an illness of one week.

He was born near Gravity, Ia. Nov. 29, 1860, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus Straw, and had lived near Afton since 1909. His wife the former Emaline Gartreal, died in 1910.

Seven daughters, five sons, two brothers and a sister survive. The daughters are Bessie Eiler, Inez Salisbury and Ethel England all of Red Oak; Anna Lackey of Torrington, Wyom.; Ollie Jones, Davenport; Ida Mitchell, Santa Rosa, California; and Mary Polsen, Council Bluffs.

Surviving sons are William of Minneapolis, Vern of Spaulding, Ben and Jesse of Afton, and Ira of Oakland.

The brothers, Frank and Geo., live at Jasper, Minn.; and a sister, Ida Tate, in Sioux City.

The Rev. F. D. Reeves, pastor of the Creston Congregational church, conducted the funeral services. Burial was in Holt cemetery north of here Monday afternoon.

 

[Warneke, David Duane]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     December 6, 1984     p. 6

Services for David Duane Warneke held Nov. 20

Graveside services were held for [David] Duane Warneke, 62, of Moses Lake, Washington, were held November 20 with Rev. David Ladd officiating.

Duane, the son of August H. [enry] and Vera [Ellen] Van Camp Warneke was born at Bedford, Ia. August 15, 1922.

He attended the public schools and grew to maturity in Taylor County.

He married Irene Groppe in Maryville, Mo. May 16, 1942.

He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1943 and worked alternately in Arizona and Washington as an automobile mechanic, truck driver and custom farmer. He enjoyed camping, traveling, boating, fishing and was known to his friends and family as a natural musician. He was a member of the Church of Christ.

He was preceded in death by his father, August H. [enry] Warneke, and a nephew Billy Warneke.

Survivors left to cherish his memory are his wife of 42 years, Irene of Moses Lake, a daughter Sharon Sanquest and husband Carl, Orlando, Fla., a son Larry and his wife Marcia, Moses Lake and four grandchildren, David and Gynell Sanquest and Amy and Sabrina Warneke, his mother, Vera Warneke, Bedford, a brother Robert and his wife, Eula, Council Bluffs, a sister Ilene Cotter and her husband Don, Savannah, Mo., and nieces and nephews.

He will be remembered by family and friends as a kind and friendly person who will be sadly missed.

[Whiteman, Wilburforce]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     December 21, 1939    [p. 1]

Paul Whiteman's Father Succumbs

Wilburforce Whiteman, father of Paul Whiteman and a former resident of Bedford, died at his home in Denver, Colo., the first of the week. Mrs. Whiteman died several years ago.

He is also survived by a daughter, the former Miss Fern Whiteman. The family is well known in Bedford.