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

 

 

 

[Eyres, Virginia Belle Jones]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     June 10, 1937     p. 5

SHARPSBURG

Mrs. Eyres Succumbs

Mrs. Chas. Eyres, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Jones, Sr., passed away at the Creston hospital Sunday evening at 6 o’clock. She is survived by her husband and three children.

[Eyres, Virginia Belle Jones]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     June 17, 1937     p. 2

SHARPSBURG

Obituary

Mrs. Charley Eyres

Mrs. Charley Eyres of Sharpsburg died at the Greater Community Hospital in Creston, Sunday, June 6.

The funeral services were held at the Presbyterian Church in Sharpsburg, Wednesday, June 9, conducted by Rev. Ray W. Cornwell. Burial was in the Conway cemetery.

Virginia Bell [e] Jones, daughter of C. [harles] W. [illiam] and Fannie Jones, was born near Sharpsburg, Iowa, Oct. 13, 1904, being aged 32 years, 7 months and 23 days at the time of her death. With the exception of five years spent in Montana, she spent her entire life in Taylor County.

On May 12, 1921 she was united in marriage to Charley Preston Eyres. To this union were born four children, Wayne who preceded his mother in death in the year of 1924, Freddie 13, Ralph 9, and Phyllis 6.

At an early age she united with the Presbyterian Church at Sharpsburg. She was loved by everyone and was willing to sacrifice anything for her family and her home. Her life was short in years but long in good deeds.

Besides her husband and children she leaves to mourn her death, her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. C. [harles] W. Jones, Sr., of Sharpsburg; two brothers, Rex of Almyra, Ark., and Charlie Jones, Jr., of Sharpsburg; two sisters, Mrs. Adah Allison of Shelton, Nebr., and Mrs. Constance Stewart of Bedford.

[Fitzhugh, Leona Mae Murray]

Bedford Times-Press

Wednesday     August 26, 1998

Leona Mae Fitzhugh

Funeral services for Leona Mae Fitzhugh, age 92, who died at the Bedford Nursing and Rehab Center on Tuesday, August 18, 1998 were held at the Ritchie Funeral Home on Friday, August 21, 1998 at 10:00 a.m. with Pastor Ted DeHass officiating. Burial was in the Conway Cemetery. Services were conducted by the Ritchie Funeral Home of Bedford.

Leona Mae Fitzhugh was born to Edgar and Lavilla Welton Murray on March 10, 1906 on a farm east of Bedford. On October 27, 1923 she was united in marriage to Roy Monroe Fitzhugh in Red Oak. To this loving union two sons were born, Gail [Eugene] and Roy Dean.

Leona grew up in the area attending country schools and farming east of Bedford. After she and Roy were married they continued to live and farm east of town until the Great Depression forced them to move to Bedford. Leona always stayed home with the boys, even during those depression years while Roy worked for the WPA Work Program and for Cudahay's Feed Store and Produce. In 1937 they moved to a farm by Blockton and then in 1940 the family moved to a farm in the Conway area. Leona was known far and wide as a wonderful seamstress. She and Roy continued farming until 1953 when Leona became the cook/manager of the Conway Community School. And cook she did, for 19 years and many, many children. Hot cinnamon rolls and fresh baked buns would fill the air stirring many a young child's appetite. Leona continued to live in the Conway area until 1984 when she moved to Waterloo to live with Gail. Then in June of 1986 she entered the Bedford Nursing and Rehab Center where she resided until her death. Leona was a fifty plus year member of the Bedford Baptist Church.

Survivors include her son Gail [Eugene] Fitzhugh and wife Rachel of Waterloo; a sister, Vera Sleep of Bedford; four grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; and a daughter in law, Nancy Fitzhugh of Eugene, Oregon.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Edgar and Lavilla; her husband Roy in 1971; a son, Roy Dean; a sister, Edra Swanson; a beloved aunt, Bertha Scroggie; a beloved sister in law, Effie Fitzhugh Kemery; and one great grandchild, Dean Peters.

[Freemyer, Jessie Maxine Kopp]

Bedford Times-Press

Wednesday     February 4, 1987    p. 6

Maxine Freemyer

Services for Maxine Freemyer, 72, were held January 28 at Shum-Novinger Funeral Home with Rev. Carl Cummings and Rev. Willis Grant officiating. Interment was at Conway Cemetery, Conway, Ia. Mrs. Freemyer died January 25, 1987 at her home near Bedford, Ia.

[Jessie] Maxine Kopp Freemyer, daughter of J. [esse] Ross Kopp and [Fannie] Belle Lambley Kopp was born in Clayton Township, Taylor County, Iowa June 21, 1914. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers who died in infancy.

She was born near the Lake of Three Fires and attended the “Hess” rural school in Clayton Township, Her first year of high school was in Conway and the last three years at Bedford High School where she graduated in the class of 1932. She was an outstanding student in Latin and loved to play the trumpet. In music contests she placed first three consecutive years and at that time only one first place was awarded. She then attended one year at Simpson College and was the first woman to play in their marching band.

Maxine taught rural school in Clayton Township until her marriage to [Leo] Zelbert Freemyer in February of 1936. They have farmed all of their married life. Last year they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary.

She had more than a thousand books mostly of a religious nature. One of her favorite writers was Norman Vincent Peale. When she would visit in Texas one of the main stores she would want to visit would be a Christian Book Store.

She loved to memorize scripture and would have verses to memorize by the kitchen sink and by her bedside. In addition in recent years she devoted a lot of time to the study of genealogy. At the time of her death she was studying two large boxes of old pictures, identifying and labeling the pictures.

She is survived by her husband Zelbert of the home; a son Dr. Paul Freemyer and his wife Margaret of Helotes, Texas and their children: Dr. Bryon Freemyer and his wife Sue of Houston, Texas; Charmaine, Eric, Vincent and Savonne; a son, attorney Howard Freemyer and his wife Sue of Jayton, Texas and their children, Lori, Ryan, Zachery and DeDe; other relatives and friends.

Maxine was a member of the Bedford United Methodist Church and she will be remembered as a devoted wife and mother; one who was devoted to her church and her Lord and one who loved her neighbor and her many friends.

[Gardner, John O.]

 

[GARDNER, JOHN O.]
Bedford Times-Republican (Bedford, Iowa), Thursday, November 9, 1916
Sharps Pioneer Is Apoplexy Victim
J. A. Gardner Receives Sudden Summons This Morning
A report has reach us that J. A. Gardner, a pioneer resident of Sharpsburg, dropped dead this morning with apoplexy.
The deceased was about 70 years of age and at one time was in the mercantile business at Sharpsburg.

 

 

 

North Taylor Review (Sharpsburg, Iowa)

Thursday     Nov. 16, 1916     [p. 1]

Obituary

John O. Gardner was born in Dowagiac, Mich., June 16, 1840 and departed this life at his home in Sharpsburg, Iowa, November 9, 1916, being 76 years, 4 months and 23 days of age.

When yet a young man he came to Iowa and settled in Henry County, in the eastern part of the state, where for several years he was engaged in farming.

At the age of 27 he was united in [marriage to] Miss Lucrecia [Lucretia] Hill, and to this union were born five children, two of whom with the mother have preceded the father in death.

He was again married December 12, 1900, to Miss Mary [Lucy] Smith of Corning, Iowa. For about thirty years he was engaged in the mercantile business in this community and was highly esteemed and respected by all who knew him.

Very early in life he was converted and united with the Methodist Episcopal church to which faith he proved true until death. He leaves to mourn his very sudden departure, his wife, and three children by a former marriage; Mrs. Richard Moore of Ottumwa, Iowa, Fred W. Gardner of Tacoma, Wash., and Adam Gardner of Lincoln, Nebr., beside a host of friends and relatives.

Funeral services were held from the Methodist Episcopal church in Sharpsburg Saturday morning at 10:30 o’clock by the pastor, Harry K. Morgan, in the presence of a very large gathering of friends and neighbors after which the body was taken to Conway for burial, there to await the morning of the glorious resurrection.

Soldiers of Christ, well done!
Praise be thy new employ;
And while eternal ages run,
Rest in thy Saviour’s joy.

 

 

[Gardner, Mary Lucy Smith]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     October 27, 1949    p. 6

SHARPSBURG

Mrs. Gardner Dies

Mrs. Lucy Gardner died at her home in Sharpsburg Monday, following a heart attack. The funeral services were held at the Methodist church Wednesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. D. C. Callison. Burial was in the Conway cemetery.

[Gardner, Mary Lucy Smith]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     November 10, 1949     p. 2

Obituary – Mary Lucy Gardner

Mary Lucy Gardner, daughter of Florence [Grace May Hastings] and Rufus [Putnam] Smith, was born at Brooks, Iowa, on Feb. 23, 1876 and died Oct. 24, 1949 at the age of 73 years, 8 months and 1 day.

At the age of five years, she moved to Taylor county with her parents and resided here the rest of her life.

As a young woman she taught school for several years in this vicinity.

In 1900 she was married to John Gardner, who preceded her in death in 1916.

She has been a member of the Methodist Church for many years.

She is survived by one sister, Mrs. Grace Copeland of Hutchinson, Kansas; and one brother, Vern Smith of Ames.

__________________________

Attend Gardner Rites

Those from a distance to attend the funeral of Mrs. Lucy Gardner were Mr. and Mrs. Vern Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Roots and son Roger and Mrs. Grace Copeland of Hutchinson, Kansas; Mr. and Mrs. Warren Smith, Mrs. Lizzie Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Svoboda of Omaha; Mrs. Philip Smith of Evanston, Ill.

[Gartner, Margaret Opal Shimer White]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     February 14, 1963     p. 8

Mrs. M. Gartner Rites Held Tues.

Funeral services for Mrs. Margaret S. Gartner were held Tuesday at State Street Shum-Novinger Funeral Home in Bedford with Rev. Walter Ortmann officiating. Interment was in Conway cemetery, Conway.

Margaret Opal Gartner, daughter of Albert [Sanford] and [Olive] Amanda [Snyder] Shimer, was born May 28, 1887 at Chesterfield, Indiana and departed this life on Feb. 10, 1963 at the Court Street Nursing Home, Bedford, Iowa, at the age of 75 years, 5 months and 18 days.

When yet a young girl, Margaret moved with her parents to Iowa. Most of her early life was spent on a farm near Clearfield, Iowa. On May 18, 1908 she was united in marriage to Fred Ellsworth White and to this union one son, Ellsworth, was born.

Fred White preceded her in death Sept. 23, 1946. On Oct. 5, 1954 Margaret was united in marriage to Virgil Gartner who preceded her in death on Sept. 23, 1960. After living for six years in Nebraska she returned to Conway, Iowa, to spend her remaining years.

Her parents and four brothers also preceded her in death.

Those left to mourn her passing are one son, Ellsworth, and his wife, Hazel, six grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, two sisters-in-law, several nieces, nephews and cousins. All will greatly miss her cheerful presence.

[Gold, Irene Garland Borden]

Lenox Time Table

Wednesday    February 15, 1984     p. 4

Graveside Services for Irene Gold February 17

Graveside services for Irene [Garland Borden] Gold, age 69 of Council Bluffs, will be held at the Conway Cemetery on Friday, February 17 at 1 p. m.

Mrs. Gold, a former Sharpsburg resident, died suddenly February 13.

 [Gulick, Elsie Belle Triggs]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Thursday      March 15, 1984

Elsie Gulick funeral Saturday

Mrs. Elsie [Belle Triggs] Gulick, 73, of Villisca died this Thursday morning at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in Red Oak. An LPN, she had operated a nursing home in Villisca.

Funeral services will be this Saturday at 2 pm at Wolfe Funeral Home with burial in the Conway cemetery. The family will receive visitors this Friday from 7-8 pm at the funeral home.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin, and a son, John.  

Survivors include two children, Delores [Lavonne] Dukes of Villisca and Kenneth Gulick of Kansas City; two stepchildren, Marvin [Edward] Gulick of Fairbanks, Ak, and Bertha [Elizabeth] Monk of Fairfield, Ia; a sister, Esther Nichols of St. Joseph, Mo; two brothers Merl Triggs of Piedmont, SD, and Kenny Triggs of Mandan, ND; 15 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

[Gulick, Marvin]

Clearfield Chronicle

Thursday      October 3, 1968     [p. 1]

Marvin Gulick Dies

Mrs. Cecil Monk received word of the sudden death of her father, Marvin Gulick at Villisca last Thursday.

Last rites were held Saturday at Villisca, Iowa.

[Gulick, Marvin]

Clearfield Chronicle

Thursday      October 3, 1968     p. 2

Mr. and Mrs. Gary Shaffer and Dave of Boulder, Colorado came Saturday to attend last rites for her grandfather, Marvin Gulick of Villisca.

They were overnite guests of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Monk and Glenna before leaving for their home early Sunday morning.

[Grubb, Clyde]

Bedford Times-Republican

Thursday     February 17, 1916      p. 8

CONWAY

Clyde Grubb, fifteen year old son of Mrs. Vina Grubb, died at the home of his mother at Red Oak, Monday Feb. 7. The remains were brought here and interred in the Conway cemetery.

[GRUBB, CLYDE]
Red Oak Express (Red Oak, Iowa), Friday, February 11, 1916
Clyde Grubb – Clyde Grubb died of scarlet fever at 7 o'clock on Wednesday morning, February 9, at the home of his mother, Mrs. Levina Grubb, 203 W. Valley street. He was born at Clearfield, Iowa on October 18, 1900. Besides his mother he leaves also two brothers, Elmer and Melvin, and one sister, Goldie.
The remains, accompanied by the brother, Melvin, were taken Wednesday evening to Conway and interment was made in the cemetery at that place Thursday morning. The bereaved ones have the sympathy of their friends in their time of sorrow.

[GRUBB, CLYDE]
Red Oak Sun (Red Oak, Iowa), Friday, February 11, 1916
Clyde Grubb Dead.
Clyde Grubb, 15-year-old son of Mrs. Finna Grubb, died at the family home 203 West Valley st., at 7 o'clock Wednesday morning, Feb. 9, from scarlet fever after a sickness of three days. The remains were taken to Conway for burial. Clyde was born Oct. 18, 1900, in Conway and came here with his mother last September. He is survived by his mother, two brothers, Elmer and Melvin, and one sister, Goldie. The sympathy of the community goes out to the family in their hour of sorrow.

[GRUBB, CLYDE]
Bedford Free Press (Bedford, Iowa), Tuesday, February 15, 1916
CONWAY – Clyde Grubb, son of Mrs. Clark Grubb at Red Oak died last Wednesday of scarlet fever. The remains were brought to Conway Thursday and placed in the Conway cemetery. The family is quarantined and was unable to come. Golda and Melvin Grubb both have the scarlet fever.

[GRUBB, CLYDE]
Bedford Free Press (Bedford, Iowa), Tuesday, February 15, 1916
Roy Shepard of Bedford and Albert Shepard of Siam attended the funeral of their cousin, Clyde Grubb, at Conway Thursday.

 

[Grubb, Elton William]

Bedford Free Press

Thursday     July 1, 1926     p. 6

CONWAY

The infant son of Mr. and Mrs. L. [loyd] C. [hester] Grubb passed away at the home of his parents near Clearfield Saturday morning at 6:15. Elton William Grubb was born May 23, 1925 and died June 26, 1926. He took whooping cough about five weeks ago and the immediate cause of his death was congestion of the lungs. He leaves to mourn his death, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. L. [loyd] C.[hester] Grubb, three sisters, Lillian, Gladys and Francis, one brother, Chester; his grandparents Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Grubb, aunts and uncles, besides a host of friends. The funeral was held at the First M. E. church in Conway, Rev. Mathews of Clearfield in charge, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Cunningham of Conway. Many beautiful flowers were given as tokens of love and respect.
[Note: The same obituary was printed in the Bedford Times-Republican, July 15, 1926, page 8.]

[Grubb, Elton William]

Clearfield Enterprise

Thursday      July 1, 1926     p. 8

Elton William Grubb

Elton William Grubb, infant son of L. [loyd] C. [hester] Grubb and wife passed away Saturday morning. The immediate cause of his death was congestion of the lungs. The little fellow had been suffering from whooping cough for several weeks.

Elton was born May 23, 1925 and passed away June 26, 1926, aged thirteen months and three days old, at the home southeast of Clearfield. The parents have the sympathy of the entire community. We think of our children as did Henry Wadsworth Longfellow when he wrote of them:

“Ye are better than all the ballads
that ever were sun or said:
For ye are living powers,
And all the rest are dead.”

Services were conducted by the family’s pastor, Rev. A. J. Matthews at the Conway M. E. Church on Sunday afternoon.

[Grubb, Elton William]

Clearfield Enterprise

Thursday      July 1, 1926 [p. 1]

Death of Child

The youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. L. [loyd] C. [hester] Grubb who live four miles southeast of town died at an early hour last Saturday. Whooping cough, with complications caused the death we are told. The little one was thirteen months of age. The funeral was on Sunday afternoon at Conway and interment in the Conway Cemetery.