Obituaries
submitted by: Julia Johnson - julia.johnson63@gmail.com
 
[Axel, Walter Lewis]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     January 13, 1983      p. 4

Rites for Walter Axel To Be Held Jan. 14

Funeral services for Walter Lewis Axel, 80, of Bedford will be held Fri., Jan. 14, at 1:30 p.m. in Shum-Novinger Funeral Home in Bedford with Rev. Carl Cummings officiating. Mr. Axel died January 11, 1983 in Bethesda Care Center, Clarinda, Iowa. Interment will be in Shearer Cemetery, Page County.

[Axel, Walter Lewis]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     January 20, 1983    p. 8

Last Rites Were Held January 14 For Walter Axel, 80

Funeral services for Walter Lewis Axel, 80, of Bedford, were held January 14 in Shum-Novinger Funeral Home here conducted by Rev. Carl Cummings. Mr. Axel died January 11, 1983 in Bethesda Care Center in Clarinda. Interment was at Shearer Cemetery, rural Page County, Iowa.

Walter Lewis Axel, son of Fay Walter Axel and Maggie Fishell Axel, was born in Page County Iowa May 11, 1902.

His family lived on farms in the Siam area until 1910 when they moved to Loveland, Colo., where he attended the public school and grew to maturity.

He engaged in farming all of his life and in 1956 he moved to a farm east of Bedford, Iowa with his brother and his mother.

When a young man he became a member of the Methodist Church in Loveland, Colorado.

Upon retirement from the farm he and his brother moved to Bedford where he has since resided until ill health caused him to enter the Bethesda Care Center about a year ago.

During his active years he was very much interested in the various farming activities and the change in the method of farm work.

His parents and a brother Lloyd preceded him in death.

Left to cherish his memory are his brother Lester L. Axel of Bedford, Iowa; an aunt, Faye Stickelman, and two uncles, Myrle and Leonard Fishell; other relatives and friends.

He was a kind and considerate loved one and friend and he will be missed by those who knew him.

[Beauvois, Cheryl Lynn Beaver]

Bedford Times-Press

Wednesday     December 15, 2004     

Cheryl Beauvois

Cheryl Lynn Beaver Beauvois, 46, of Des Moines died Monday, December 6, 2004. Funeral services were held 11 a . m. Saturday at the Blockton Christian Church in Blockton, Iowa with burial following at the Athelstan Cemetery. Cheryl was born September 10, 1958 in Iowa City and graduated from Lincoln High School. She attended Drake University and was an underwriter for American Republic Insurance. She enjoyed her cats and crafting. She is survived by her mother Mary Hildreth, her brother Barry Beaver, her sister Sharon Larchelle, her uncle, Donald “Buck” Weaver, her aunts Marie Campbell, Thelma Johnson and Mabel Leight, her close friends Bob Potts, Janet Evans and Shirley Edwards as well as numerous cousins. She was preceded in death by her father Larry Beaver, her step-father Darel Hildreath [Hildreth], her uncle Duane Weaver, her aunt Joye Weidler and her grandparents, Raymond Weaver, Joyce “Rocky” Rockafellow, Albert Beaver and Ardis Beaver. Memorials may be made to the Blockton Christian Church.

[Booher, George, Jr.]

George Booher, Jr., 85, of Clarinda, died Monday, Sept. 18, 2006, at Westridge Care and Rehab Center, Clarinda. Funeral services were at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 21, 2006, at Walker-Merrick Funeral Home, Clarinda, with The Rev. Ed Simmons officiating. Visitation with the family was 7 p.m. – 8 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2006, at the funeral home. Burial was in the Athelstan Cemetery, Athelstan. A memorial will be established. Walker-Merrick Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.walker-merrick-wolfe-barr.com.

 George Booher, Jr., was born June 19, 1921, at Athelstan to George W. Booher, Sr., and Jessie Marie [Jane] (Woods) Booher. He was a 1939 graduate of Athelstan High School. He served his country in the United States Army 1942-1945 during World War II in the Northern France and Rhineland Central Europe Campaigns. He lived in the Clarinda area most of his adult life. George was a guard at Clarinda Corrections Complex, retiring in 1983. His greatest pleasures in life were fishing, planting flowers, feeding the squirrels and reading his Bible.

Preceding George in death were his parents, two sisters and three brothers-in-law. Survivors include his sisters, Leona Williams, Mount Ayr, and Marcelene Binau and husband Chuck, Shenandoah; brother, Glade Booher and wife Dixie, Clarinda, and numerous nieces and nephews.

[Source: Online obituary available from Eickemeyer Funeral Chapel http://www.efc.cc/_main/obituaries.asp.]

 

[Booher, Viola Jane Parris]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     October 19, 1933    p. 7

ATHELSTAN

MRS. BOOHER SUCCUMBS

Athelstan Woman Had Been Ill For Some Time

Mrs. John W. [illiam] Booher, 65, of Athelstan died at her home Friday, Oct. 6, after a lingering illness. The funeral services were held at the Holiness church Saturday, Oct. 7, conducted by Rev. Clifford Jackson of Redding. Burial was in the Athelstan cemetery.

Viola Jane Parris was born Feb. 25, 1868. She was married to John W. [illiam] Booher June 7, 1887. To them were born fifteen children, five having preceeded their mother in death. The surviving children are George W., Paul H., Virgil L.[eslie], Mrs. Viola [Belle] Chandler, and Mrs. Madge Barnett of Athelstan; Mrs. Mary Allen of Sheridan; Mrs. Dora Allen of Martinsville; Mrs. John W. Allen of New Hampton, Mo.; James E. Booher of Bethany; and Mrs. Carrie [Lucinda] Rucker of Eagleville.

Surviving with the children are the husband and father, John W. [illiam] Booher, three half brothers and three half sisters, Clyde, Joe, and Ora Hays and Mrs. Grace Balch of Athelstan, Mrs. Margaret Blake of Arcadia, Kans., and Mrs. Ethel Markee of Manchester, Iowa. Also thirty-four grandchildren, and one great grandchild.

[BOOHER, VIOLA JANE PARRIS]
Blockton News (Blockton, Iowa), Thursday, October 26, 1933
Mrs. John W. Booher, 65, died at her home at Athelstan Oct. 6 after a lingering illness. Funeral services were held at the Athelstan Holiness church Oct. 7, conducted by Rev. Clifford Jackson of Redding. Burial in the Athelstan cemetery.

[Bowers, Franklin Elza]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     December 11, 1952

athelstan

Obituary - Elza Bowers

Franklin Elza Bowers, son of Adam and Matilda Franklin Bowers, was born in Harrison County, Mo., near Cainsville, Oct. 6, 1893, and died Dec. 1, 1952, at his home four miles north of Sheridan, Mo., at the age of 59 years, one month and 25 day.

He came to Iowa from Missouri with his parents when he was a small child, locating at Randolph, where he grew to manhood.

He was married Feb. 8, 1914, at Farragut, Iowa to Anna [Elizabeth] Smith. Soon after their marriage they moved to Taylor County, where they have resided.

Two children were born to them, Jeretta Gale, who died in infancy, and Mrs. Carmen Deuel of Houston, Texas.

Mr. Bowers was one of a family of eight children, the other seven survive. They are: W. A. Bowers of Malvern, John Bowers of Shenandoah, Oral Bowers of Perry, Mrs. Mary McLain of Cainsville, Mo., Mrs. Martha Eason, Nevada, Mo., Mrs. Pearl Tudor, Eldorado Springs, Mo., Mrs. Amanda Wilson, Bakersfield, Calif. There is also one granddaughter, Mickie Lee Deuel of Houston, Texas.

Mr. Bowers had been in failing health for five years but became seriously ill only a short time before his death.

Funeral services were conducted from the Community church Athelstan Dec. 4, by Rev. Robt. M. Peters of Bedford.

[Bownes, John Cleo]

Bedford Times-Press

Wednesday      February 28, 1996     p. 10

JOHN "CLEO" BOWNES

John "Cleo" Bownes, son of Fred and Susie Bownes, was born in Athelstan in Worth County, Missouri April 9, 1913 and departed this life February 17,1996 in Clarinda, Iowa at the age of 82 years, 10 months, and eight days.

On February 15, 1933 he was united in marriage to Reva Iola Smith in Grant City, Missouri and they lived most of their 63 years of married life in the rural areas near Athelstan, Iowa.

To this union two children were born - Cleta Jean Bownes of Clarinda, Iowa and Ronald Leo Bownes of Maryville, Missouri.

Cleo was engaged in farming in Taylor County until 1971 when he and Reva moved to Clarinda where he was employed as a mechanic and parts salesman at Earl Schenk's Implement Co. for about 15 years.

He attended and was an active member in the Holiness Church at Athelstan, Iowa and the Free Methodist and the Nazarene Churches at Clarinda, Iowa.

Left to cherish his memory are: his wife Reva of the home; his son, Ronald L. Bownes and wife; his daughter Cleta J. Bownes; two sisters, Maxine Carroll and Evelyn Sickels, Bedford, Iowa; four grandchildren; Chris Heckman, Craig Bownes, Ronda Churchill and Cerri Bownes of Maryville, Missouri; eight great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He was a kind and considerate son, husband, father, brother and grandfather. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. He liked people and was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. A farmer's life was a top priority to Cleo and he took great pride in all aspects of his chosen profession. He thoroughly enjoyed visits from family and friends and in turn visited their homes as often as possible in a friendly and caring manner.

Funeral services were held February 20, 1996 at the Novinger-Taylor Funeral Home in Bedford with interment in the Athelstan Cemetery.

Bownes, John "Cleo" -
John "Cleo" Bownes, 82 of Clarinda, died Feb. 17,1996, at the Clarinda Municipal Hospital.
Funeral services were Tuesday, Feb. 20, at Novinger-Taylor Funeral Home, Bedford, with Rev. Ward Campbell and Rev. Steve Joiner officiating. Burial was in the Athelstan Cemetery.
Bownes was born April 9, 1913, in Worth County, Missouri to Fred and Susie Bownes.
On Feb. 15,1933, he married Reva Iola Smith, Grant City, Mo., and they lived most of their 63 year of married life in the rural areas near Athelstan. They farmed in Taylor County until 1971 when they moved to Clarinda, where he was employed as a mechanic and parts man at Earl Schenck Implement Company for about 15 years.
He was an active member in the Holiness Church, Athelstan, and the Free Methodist and Nazarene Churches, Clarinda.
Survivors include his wife Reva, of the home; son, Ronald and Kathy Bownes, Maryville, Mo.; daughter, Cleta J. Bownes, Clarinda; four grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be directed to the family. CLARINDA HERALD-JOURNAL, Clarinda, Iowa, Feb 21, 1996

[Bownes, Reva Iola Smith]

Bedford Times-Press

Wednesday     February 25, 1998      p. 5

Reva Iola Bownes

Funeral services for Reva Iola Bownes, age 82, who died at the Village Health Center in Maryville, Missouri on Thursday, February 19,1998 were held at the Ritchie Funeral Home, Sunday, February 22, 1998 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Ward Campbell officiating. Burial was in the Athelstan Cemetery. Services were conducted by the Ritchie Funeral Home of Bedford.

Reva Iola Bownes was born to Frank and Effie Dye Smith, September 14, 1915. Reva was a devoted farm wife and mother. On February 15, 1933 she married John "Cleo" Bownes in Grant City, Missouri. In 1973, Mr. and Mrs. Bownes moved to Clarinda.

Mrs. Bownes attended the Holiness Church in Athelstan and the Free Methodist and Nazarene Church in Clarinda.

Reva is preceded in death by her grandson, Craig Bownes; her husband Cleo Bownes; three sisters and three brothers.

Survivors include a daughter, Cleta [Jean] Bownes of Clarinda; a son, Ronald L. and wife Kathy Bownes of Maryville, Missouri; a sister, Blanchie Schipper of Clarinda; four granddaughters; eight great grandchildren, Ronda and Monte Churchill and their children, Zachary and Cody; Chris, Ashley and Bryan Heckman, Cerri, Heather and Kyle Standiford, Angela, Dakota and Brandy Bownes along with many nieces and nephews.

[Bownes, Ronald Craig]

Bedford Times-Press

Wednesday     September 11, 1996      p. 5

Ronald "Craig" Bownes

Services for Ronald "Craig" Bownes, 27, of Burlington Jct., MO were held Wednesday, September 4, 1996 at 2 p.m. at Price Funeral Home in Maryville, MO. Pastor Philip Campbell officiated. Burial was at the Athelstan Cemetery, Athelstan, IA.

Born July 31, 1969 to Ronald L. and Kathy [Kathryn Ann Riedel] Bownes, Craig spent his childhood on a farm, near Athelstan, IA. At the age of 15, he moved with his family to Maryville, MO where he made his lifelong dream of driving a semi a successful reality.

On June 17, 1989, he met Angela Force, the woman to whom he devoted his life. To this union two beautiful children were born, one son, Dakota Craig, 6 and one daughter, Brandy Leah, 3.

Mr. Bownes was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Cleo Bownes, Clarinda, IA and his maternal grandmother, Virginia Riedel, Kent, IA.

Left to cherish his memory are loved ones of his home, Angela, Dakota and Brandy, Burlington Jct., MO; his parents, Ronald L. and Kathy Bownes, Maryville, MO; three sisters, Ronda Churchill, Bedford, IA; Chris Heckman and Cerri Bownes, Maryville, MO; his grandmother, Reva Bownes, Clarinda, IA; and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Riedel, Kent, IA; two nieces, one nephew and many cousins, aunts and uncles.

Craig covered millions of miles in the cab of a Peterbilt with his family always in his heart and on his mind. It was this devotion that made him a wonderful father, son and brother. He will be deeply missed by numerous friends and family whose hearts he touched and whose friendships he treasured always.

[Cummings, Della Freemyer]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday      March 22, 1962     p. 4

Death Takes Mrs. Cummings

Mrs. Della Cummings, a resident of the Sharpsburg-Lenox area, died at the Clearview Rest Home, Clearfield, Sunday, March 18. She was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. A. [rcher] M. [onroe] Freemyer of Athelstan.

Funeral services were held at the Varner Funeral home in Clearfield Tuesday afternoon with burial in the Athelstan cemetery.

[Davis, Lillie May Cordell]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday      January 4, 1945      [p. 1]

Mrs. Robert Davis Dies In Hospital

Mrs. Robert [Lee] Davis, 23, of Bedford, died at the Municipal Hospital in Clarinda Tuesday, Jan. 2. The funeral services will be held at the Community church in Athelstan at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon, Jan. 5, conducted by Rev. G. L. Hufstader of Bedford. Burial will be in the Athelstan cemetery.

She is survived by her husband and by her father, Isaac [Henry] Cordell of Athelstan, and other members of the family.

[Davis, Lillie May Cordell]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday      January 18, 1945      p. 8

MRS. ROBERT DAVIS

Lillie May Cordell, daughter of Clara Ann [Tacket] and Isaac Henry Cordell, was born near Blockton, May 16, 1921 and died at the Municipal Hospital in Clarinda Tuesday, January 2, 1945, with double pneumonia. She was the youngest of a family of seven children, being 23 years, 7 months and 17 days at the time of her death.

She was graduated from the Bedford High School with the class of 1941. After the death of her mother on May 27, 1942 she kept house for her father and two nephews until August 1944. She was a telephone operator in Athelstan for a year and made many friends.

 On Sept. 30, 1944 she was married to Robert Lee Davis and they made their home in Bedford until her death.

Surviving with the husband are her father, two brothers, Cecil and Carl of Bedford; four sisters, Mary Chandler of Athelstan, Cordys Newby of Platteville, Mabel Bycroft of Corning, and Evelyn Morgan of Akron, Ohio.

She was a member of the Bedford Methodist church.

Funeral services were held at the Community church in Athelstan Friday, Jan. 5, and burial was in the Athelstan cemetery.

[Deardorff, Ada Lavaun Rundell]

Clearfield Chronicle

Wednesday     October 9, 2002      p. 6

Ada Deardorff

Ada Lavaun Deardorff of Plattsmouth, Neb., formerly of Clearfield, passed away Monday, Sept. 30, at her home at Beaverlake, Neb.

Ada was born Feb. 17, 1933, in Ringgold County to Daniel and Ada Maude (Skinnaharm) Rundell.

She was married to Virgil F. Deardorff Jr. on May 11, 1952, in Huntsville, Ark. They spent most of their lives in Ringgold and Taylor counties.

Ada loved doing arts, crafts and country music. She also loved to travel and visit friends and family.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Daniel and Ada Maude; husband Virgil; son Frederick Deardorff and grandson Christopher Hannover.

She is survived by her companion Will Foster of Plattsmouth; sister Janice Bull and husband John of Mount Dora, Fla.; son Randall Deardorff and wife Pam of Clearfield; two daughters, Virgia Ufford and husband John of Winterset, and Lisa Hannover of Graettinger; five grandchildren, Maria Pratt and husband Marvin, Melisa Wright, Lanna Ray and husband Adam, Daniel Deardorff and wife Heather, Sara Fliehe and husband James; eight-grandchildren, Mariah, Marvin Jr., Dessirea, Logan, Darryan, Levi, David and Alex.

Funeral services were held Oct. 3 at Wilson-Watson & Armstrong Funeral Home in Clearfield with Rev. Len Garrison officiating. Interment was in Athelstan Cemetery.

[Deardorff, Virgil Frederick]

Clearfield Chronicle

Wednesday      April 13, 1989     p. 3

Virgil Frederick Deardorff

Virgil Frederick Deardorff was born October 5, 1928 in Worth County, Missouri to Virgil A. [lonzo]  and Pearl May (Bower) Deardorff.

He served in the American Army for two years during which time he spent eleven months in Korea. He was a member of the Creston V. F. W. Post 1797 and the Clearfield American Legion Woodside Post #97.

He married Ada LaVaun Rundell on May 11, 1952 in Huntsville, Arkansas.

Virgil has farmed and lived around Clearfield for the last thirty-three years and spent most of his life in Ringgold and Taylor Counties.

This union was blessed with four children, Frederick Danny and wife Okcha of Sac City, Iowa; Virgia Marie and husband, Walter Green of Corning, Iowa; Randall Lavern and Lisa Ann of Clearfield.

Also four grandchildren, Maria LaVaun, Melissa Lynn and Lanna Renea Green, and Daniel Frederick Deardorff.

Virgil passed away April 5, 1989 at 4:00 P.M. while hospitalized in the Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Ia.

Virgil was preceded in death by his Mother, Father and brother, Keith.

Survivors include four sisters, Barbara Deardorff of Clearfield, Iowa; Ferna (Mrs. Mervin) Fletchall of Grant City, Missouri; Bonnie (Mrs Jerry) Fletchall, Clearfield, Connie Asher of Worth, Mo., and one brother, Phillip Deardorff and wife Kay of Parnell, Missouri, as well as a host of other relatives and friends.

Services were conducted on Saturday, April 8, 1989 from the United Methodist Church in Clearfield at 10:30 A.M. with Rev. Duane Ferguson officiating.

Music by Mrs. John Parrish and Mrs. Danny Kinder.

Casket bearers were Jerry Ewalt, John Pirtle, Marvin Baker, Gerald Zoller, Larry Brammer, Darrell Stephens.

Honorary Pallbearers were: Darl Bell, Lee Bailey, Sam Bathurst, Walter Owens, Dean Lyddon, Dale Campbell, Dwain Callies, George Kilgore.

Final resting place in the Athelstan Cemetery at Athelstan, Iowa with Military Graveside Rites by Woodside Post #97 American Legion, Clearfield, Iowa.

Wilson-Watson Funeral Service had charge of the services.