Obituaries
submitted by: Julia Johnson - julia.johnson63@gmail.com

[Roe Ethel Thompson Butts]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    August 25, 1983 

Roe Ethel Butts, 92, Last Rites Were Held In Bedford

Funeral services for Mrs. J. [oseph] Glen Butts, 92, of Clearfield, formerly of Bedford, held August 20 in Shum-Novinger Funeral Home here, were conducted by Rev. Carl Cummings.  Mrs. Butts died August 18, 1983, in Clearview Nursing Home in Clearfield, Iowa.  Interment was at Fairview Cemetery, Bedford, Ia.

Roe Ethel Thompson Butts, daughter of Enos Thompson and Mary E. [lizabeth] Ratliff Thompson, was born September 27, 1890, in Greene County, Tennessee.

She moved with her family to Clarinda, Iowa, when she was 12 years of age, where she attended the public school and became a member of the Baptist Church.  Her family then moved to a farm near Bedford, Iowa, in 1909, and she later transferred her membership to the Bedford Baptist Church where she was a faithful and dedicated member.

On October 17, 1917, she was united in marriage to J. [oseph] Glen Butts at Creston, Iowa, and they were engaged in farming in Taylor County all of their active years until they retired and moved to Bedford, Iowa.  Following the death of her husband on November 11, 1976, and due to her failing health, she sold her house in Bedford and moved to Clearfield, Iowa, where she has continued to reside.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two brothers, James Thompson and Brainard Thompson and two sisters, Hattie Mason and Ruth Marshall.

Left to cherish her memory are nephews, Olin Mason and Dwight Marshall and a niece, Bonnie Routh; several cousins in Tennessee; other relatives and friends.

She will be remembered as a kind and considerate person and her life was lived with love and concern for others and she will be sadly missed by all those who knew and loved her.

[Vearon J. "Pop" John]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    April 21, 1983 

Vearon John, 83, Final Rites Held Here April 13

Funeral services for Vearon (Pop) John, 83, of Bedford, held April 13 in Shum-Novinger Funeral Home here, were conducted by Rev. Marcia Smith Wood and Rev. Maynard Peterson.  Mr. John died April 10, 1983, in Municipal Hospital in Clarinda.  Interment was at Fairview Cemetery.

Vearon J. (Pop) John, oldest son of Leon and Girda Stickelman John, was born in rural Bedford, November 16, 1899.  He grew to manhood in Bedford where he attended public school and was a member of the class of 1918.  He was a substitute mail carrier until March 27, 1918, when he resigned to go to the Army in World War I.

He joined the Army at Fort Logan, Colorado, and was assigned to the Casual Detail Battery W, 48th Artillery.  He was stationed at Puget Sound, Washington, for six weeks, then was shipped to France where he was in active duty from April 2, 1918, until his discharge on March 24, 1919.  Returning home, he again entered the postal service as substitute carrier.  He was appointed temporary carrier on Rt. 1, August 20, 1920, and received his regular appointment on Rt. 1, on December 1, 1920, where he served for 42 years.

On May 6, 1933, he was united in marriage to Ruth Hennegin at St. Joseph, Missouri, and would have celebrated his Golden Anniversary this coming May.  He was a 72-year member of the United Christian-Presbyterian Church; was a charter member of the American Legion; and a member of the World War Veterans.

His hobbies were woodworking and flowers.  He loved beautiful wood, especially walnut.  He left many happy memories to his many friends with whom he shared his hobbies.

He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers: Harold, Donald, and Albert.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Ruth; brother-in-law, Henry Hennegin, and wife, Alta; two sisters-in-law: Dorothy John of Daly City, California and Alice John of Corning, Iowa; five nieces; two nephews; six great grandnieces; and one great great grandniece.

Pop, as he was known by his friends, was a Christian in his heart for his fellow men.  He will always be remembered by family and his many friends for his helping hands and loving ways.

"Tiny Lights Count"

Your tiny candle of faith May lighten someone's road.  Your smiles and cheery greeting May lighten someone's load.

So give unstintingly of hope and cheer; For as you help others, as they trod, You will find your own self nearer To the wide portals of God.

                                                Florence Beck Unangst

[Frances Jean Stanley Amrine]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    March 15, 2000    p. 5

Frances Jean Stanley, daughter of Arthur O. and Edna Irvin Stanley, was born on August 5, 1916, in Sheridan, Missouri and departed this life on March 5, 2000, in the Clearview Home in Mount Ayr, Iowa.

She was united in marriage to Stephen Louis Amrine on April 16, 1937.  To this union three children were born, Alicia Anne (Dec. 8, 1938), Stanley Stephen (May 9, 1941), and Nichole Ruth (Nov. 25, 1942).

Frances was preceded in death by her father, her daughters, Alicia and Nichole, her mother and stepfather, Dr. Abarr, her half sister, Carlota Stanley Engle and her husband.

Frances attended Beauty School in Des Moines, Iowa, then opened a shop in Blockton where she was a beautician for 50 years.

She was a member of the Methodist Church in Blockton and in Mt. Ayr; she also belonged to the Eastern Star and the L. A. L. Bridge club.  After the death of her husband she moved to Mt. Ayr where she spent the last seven years enjoying activities with the Literary Club, the Antique Club, the Dinner Group, and many new and old friends.

Left to mourn her passing are her son, Stanley and his wife Lynette; granddaughters, Rachel and Robin; brother, Arthur Irvin Stanley; sister, Jean Abarr Gurnsey; her nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

[Amrine, Frances Jean Stanley]

Lenox Time Table

March 15, 2000    p. 4

Frances Amrine

Frances Amrine of Mount Ayr, formerly of Blockton passed away March 5, 2000 at the Clearview Home in Mount Ayr at the age of 83.

Mrs. Amrine, the daughter of Arthur Oliver and Edna (Irvin) Stanley was born August 5, 1916 in Sheridan, Missouri.

She graduated from Blockton High School in 1935. She was united in marriage to Stephen L. [ouis] Amrine in Fillmore, MO on April 16, 1927. She operated Frances Beauty Shop in Blockton for 50 years, retiring in 1994. She lived in Blockton before moving to Mount Ayr five years ago.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Mount Ayr and L.A.L. Bridge Club in Blockton.

She is survived by a son, Stanley (wife Lynette) Amrine of Dallas Center; a brother, Arthur Irvin Stanley of Columbia, Mo., and two grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her parents and husband.

Services were held March 9 at Wilson-Watson and Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr with the Rev. Michael Druhl officiating. Burial was in the Rose Hill Cemetery at Blockton.

[Eva Goff Gould Straight]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    March 15, 2000    p. 5

Funeral services for Eva Gould Straight, age 92, of Winterset, formerly of Taylor County, who died Monday, March 6, 2000, in Winterset, Iowa, were held Thursday, March 9, 2000, at 11:00 a.m. at the Ritchie Funeral Home with Pastor Ted DeHass officiating.  Interment was held in the Fairview Cemetery in Bedford.  Memorials can be directed to Integrated Health Services Nursing Home in Winterset.  Services were conducted by the Ritchie Funeral Home of Bedford.

Eva Marie Gould Straight was born December 31, 1907 in Bedford, Iowa, the daughter of Andrew Goff and Nellie Hill Goff.  Eva grew up in the Taylor County area; she was the oldest of ten children.  She attended school in the Bedford area and on September 1, 1925, she was united in marriage to Fred Gould in Maryville, Missouri.  Eva and Fred lived and farmed on various farms in Taylor County until his death in 1957.  Eva then went to work as a switchboard operator in Conway and for the Mental Health Hospital in Clarinda until her retirement in 1965.  On January 30, 1964, she was united in marriage to Marion Straight in Bedford; he died in 1969.  Eva continued to live in New Market until 1978, when she moved to Grant City, where she lived until moving to the Winterset/St. Charles area until her death.

Eva was a great cook, specializing in pies (sour cream raisin) and desserts.  Her grandchildren fondly remember eating fried dough of "fido" as they called it.  She enjoyed camping with her family.  She liked to entertain, and would often put on a play, with skits, singing, dancing, and comedy with her sister-in-law, Ada, at churches and other places.  She attended the United Methodist Church and had been a member of the New Market Rebekah Lodge where she had served as president.  She had also been active as a 4-H Leader and the Conway P. T. A. for many years.

She is survived by her daughter, Lois Downing and husband Harold of Grant City, Missouri; a son, Robert Gould and wife Connie of St. Charles, Iowa; a daughter-in-law, Beverly Gould of Carlisle, Iowa; five sisters, Alma Ridenour of Red Oak; Viva Lantz of Carson City, Nevada; Lela Armstrong of Rock Island, Illinois; Helen Doermann of Richmond, Virginia; and Carol Stout and husband Warren of Richmond, Virginia; twelve grandchildren; and twenty great grandchildren.

Preceding her in death are both her husbands, Fred Gould in 1957 and Marion Straight in 1969; her parents, Andrew and Nellie; a son, Eldon Gould; an infant daughter, Phyliss Gould; a brother, Ken Goff; three sisters, Opal Brubaker, Alta Bennett and Edith Sage; and three infant great grandchildren.

[Burnice Wray Neumeyer]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    March 15, 2000    p. 5

Burnice Neumeyer

Word came this morning that Mrs. Howard Neumeyer (Burnice) had passed away.  She had a stroke five years ago and the family had given her loving care all this time.

She was the former Burnice Wray.

Her husband was killed in World War II.  Then later she married Howard Neumeyer, youngest son of Henry Neumeyer.

They later moved to Idaho and had resided there since.  She had three children, Maxine, Kenneth and Shirley, who survive.

[Sarah Rebecca Wells George]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    November 4, 1948    p. 3

Funeral Services At Unity

Funeral services were held at the Unity rural church, east of Hopkins, Wednesday afternoon for Mrs. Sarah [Rebecca Wells] George, the wife of the late James George, who died in 1941.  The George family were long-time residents of this vicinity.  Mrs. George died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Tona Covey (Ena) at Louisville, Kentucky, of pneumonia.  She was 83 years of age.

The Rev. W. J. Campbell of Davis City, Iowa, conducted the service.  Burial was in the New Hope cemetery, east of Hopkins.

Another daughter, Mrs. Emmett Campbell (Ethel) of Searcy, Ark., survives her.  Both Mrs. Campbell [and Mrs. Covey?] were here to attend the funeral service.  The Swanson Mortuary was in charge of the final arrangements.

[Mrs. Bertha Bebout Jeffers]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    November 4, 1948    p. 3

Mrs. Bertha Jeffers Dies

Mrs. Bertha A. Jeffers died Friday, Oct. 29, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Galen A. Turner in east Hopkins.  Mrs. Jeffers had been seriously ill throughout the summer and was taken to the Turner home several weeks ago.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at the Christian Church, conducted by the pastor, C. A. Abbott.  Mrs. Jeffers was born in Taylor County, Iowa, December 6, 1875, and was 72 years, 10 months and 23 days of age.  In early life her church affiliations were with the Siam Christian church and later she became a member of the Hopkins Christian church.  After the death of her first husband, Charles Bebout, she was married to William Jeffers.

She is survived by one son, Harley Bebout, Bryon, Tex., the daughter, Mrs. Turner, one stepson, Glen Jeffers, San Francisco, Calif.; one stepdaughter, Mrs. Chloe Brown, Maryville, Mo.; a stepmother, Mrs. Belle Goodrich of Hopkins; three grandchildren and a great grandchild.  Burial was in the Hopkins cemetery.  Swanson Funeral Home in charge.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Turner came from Columbia, Mo., and attended the funeral rites of Mr. Turner's grandmother, Mrs. Bertha Jeffers.  Mr. Turner is a student at the University of Columbia [Missouri].