Lenox, Taylor County, Iowa obituaries
transcribed by: Lorelei Rusco - lorerus@iowatelecom.net
 
 

Adams, Joseph Bradley -

Joseph Bradley Adams, infant son of C. B. and JoEllyn Adams, died at the age of one hour at the Creston Hospital on August 13.

Rev. Jack Cutbirth officiated at the services held Tuesday, August 15 in the Christian Church. The music was provided by Harley Porter on the organ

and Sue Ewen, who sang. Randy Bishop, Roger Ridge, Dennis Adams and Richard Adams were pallbearers. Burial was in the Barnes Cemetery at Worth, Mo.

Joseph leaves his parents and four brothers, Brooke, Spencer, Chip and Cody at home.

Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Adams of Worth, Mo. and Forrest Beemer of Bedford. Great-grandparents are Ada Farrens of Bedford and

Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Holmes of Worth, Mo.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday August 16, 1978

 

Beck, Herman P -

Funeral services were held in Chandler, Arizona for Herman P. Beck, 72, who died there on August 1, 1978. Services were held in Green Acres Mortuary,

with interment at Green Acres Memorial Gardens.

Herman P. Beck, son of Phillip and Barbara Beck, was born November 16, 1905 on a farm west of Lenox. He spent most of his life in farming near Lenox.

In 1943 he moved to a farm north of Reinbeck, where he lived until his health failed in 1952. He later lived in Arizona and California.

At an early age he joined the Presbyterian Church.

He was married to Irene Reese in 1934. To this union one son, William H. Beck, was born.

He is survived by his wife Irene, son, William, and grandson, Patrick Beck, three sisters, Emma Beck, St. Joseph, Mo., Mary Morris and Rose

Beck, Lenox, one half brother, Charles Beck, Lenox, nieces and nephews.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday August 39, 1978

 

Bristow, Gary Lee -

Funeral services for Gary Lee Bristow were held in the Rose Hill Chapel in Whitier, Calif. Interment was at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens.

Gary Lee Bristow, son of Harold and Marguerite Bristow was born in Bedford January 26, 1937, and passed away August 30, 1978 in Long Beach, Calif.

His early life was spent in Taylor County where he attended rural schools graduating from Lenox High School in 1955.

At the age of eighteen he joined the Methodist Church in Lenox. Soon after graduation he joined the Navy where he spent the next four years. Most of that time he

was radar operator on a Navy plane flying out over the Atlantic from Newfoundland to the Azores and back. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1959.

After coming back to Lenox he became interested in art. He did several pictures for different ones and the Christian Church, also doing sign painting.

After going to California he worked for the Pitney Bows office machine company until ill health forced him to quit three years ago.

He was married to Beulah May Dobbs February 2, 1970 since then they had lived in San Gabriel, Calif.

Gary is survived by his wife, Beulah and parents, Harold and Marquerite Bristow.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday September 13, 1978

 

Chaney, Minnie May Richards -

Minnie May Richards was born May 6, 1883 in Holt Township, Taylor County, Iowa and passed away at Rosary Hospital, Corning, Iowa, August 17, 1978,

at the age of 95. She was the daughter of Florence Case Richards and Millard Richards.

She was united with the Methodist Church in her youth.

November 18, 1900, she became the bride of Charles Edwin Chaney at the parents' home at Brooks, Iowa. They made homes at North Branch, Carbon,

Sharpsburg and Blockton, Iowa but moved to Clearfield in 1918 where she continued to make her home after his death in 1938. To this union were born

five children, Alice Margin who preceded her parents in death and Hazel Hargin of Lenox; Herman of North Bend, Oregon; Robert of Des Moines; and Walter

of Thousand Oaks, California. Also preceding her in death were her parents, a sister, Monta, two brothers, Charlie and Roy Richards, one sister-in-law, Nora Richards, a nephew,

Harry Johnson, whom she and her husband had taken into their home and who helped make her home until his death, a daughter-in-law, Louise Chaney, and two sons-in-law, John and Oliver Hargin. In addition to her children she is survived by two daughters-in-law, Irvel of Des Moines and Susan of Thousand Oaks; a sister-in-law, Ethel Richards of Boulder, Colorado; a niece, Lula Everett of Council Bluffs, Iowa; ten grandchildren, twenty great grandchildren and fourteen great great grandchildren.

Her career was that of homemaker. After her own children were grown she helped in their homes and gave many selfless years to the love and care of her grandchildren. Every member of her family shared in the products which she created as an expression of her skill with needle and thread. Many of those early creations were in the form

of quilts and later she turned to embroidered items. Her greatest worry seemed to come when her eyes no longer allowed her to do the work she so enjoyed doing.

Her family and friends have often expressed thankfulness that Grandma remained able to visit and share memories until the end. God granted us a great blessing and she will be sadly missed.

[Poem]

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday August 23, 1978

 

Douglas, Glen Wilford -

Glen Douglas passed away August 1 and services were held Fri., Aug. 4, 1978 at the Lenox United Presbyterian Church. Pastors David and Cheryl Wessels

and Rev. Leonard Mclntire officiated. Burial was in the North Fairview Cemetery in Lenox. Music was provided by Roberta Lockhart, organ, and Marilyn Beck and Billie Jean Barker, vocalists.

Pall bearers were Lonnie Barker, Donald Sams, Alford Nicholson, Bob Reynolds, Robert Lockhart, and Bill Reed.

Glen Wilford Douglas was born on May 29, 1907 in Pawnee County, Nebr. to D. Gilbert and Mildred Hunt Douglas. He moved to Atkinson, Nebr. with his family in 1924.

He attended rural school in Pawnee and Holt counties and also attended agriculture school at the University of Nebraska.

Glen joined the congregational church as a charter member at the age of 10 and later transferred his membership to the United Presbyterian Church of Lenox.

He was married on June 7, 1933 at Broken Bow, Nebr. to Beulah LeMunyan, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank LeMunyan.

Glen had moved here in 1931 and then resided in rural Lenox until 1940 when they moved to town where he owned and operated an electrical, plumbing and gas business until he retired in 1974 due to illness.

Surviving are his wife, Beulah; one son, Lanny Douglas of Lenox; and two daughters: Mrs. David (Glenda) Jacobson of Bartlesville, Okla.; and Leila Douglas of Pleasantville; also surviving are five grandchildren: Connie, Eddie and Monty Douglas, and Eric and Diane Jacobson. In addition he is survived by one brother, Donald Douglas of Prescott; and three sisters, Mineva Tully, Deloris Beck and Bernice Brown, all of Lenox, as well as a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by an infant son, his parents, one brother, an infant sister and a granddaughter.

He loved life and spent many happy moments hunting and fishing.

He had a deep concern for preserving the land for future generations. He was grateful for each day and endured his suffering cheerfully and bravely.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday August 9, 1978

 

Gordon, Fern Maharry Bell -

Mrs. Leigh (Fern) Gordon died Friday, September 8 at Marshall, Missouri. The funeral was there at 10 a.m. Monday.

The body was brought to the United Presbyterian Church in Lenox with visitation held at the church from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m.

The memorial service was held at the church immediately after the visitation at 8:15 p.m. Mon., the minister from Marshall, Mo., officiating.

Interment was in West Fairview Cemetery Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock.

Mrs. Gordon was a former resident of Lenox and a sister of Mrs. O.E. Bricker.

An obituary will be available later.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday September 13, 1978

 

Gordon, Fern Maharry Bell -

Mrs. J.L. (Fern) Gordon, 79, died Friday, Sept. 8 at Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall, Mo. Services were held there September 11 at 10a.m., after which the body was brought to Lenox to the United Presbyterian Church.

After visitation, a memorial service was held Monday evening, conducted by Rev. Jerry Hilton, pastor of the Covenant Presbyterian Church of Marshall.

James Lewis, undertaker, of Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home at Marshall had charge of arrangements.

Burial was Tuesday, Sept. 12 in West Fairview Cemetery, Lenox.

Mrs. Gordon was born in Lenox, June 29, 1899, the daughter of John Franklin Maharry and Elizabeth Seaton Maharry. She spent her youth here, graduating from Lenox High School. She worked for several years in her brother's store, known as Maharry Bros.

On August 22, 1917, she was married to Franklin Bell of Chariton, Iowa, who preceded her in death in 1966.

They were parents of two daughters and a son, Mrs. Sterling (Betty) Ross of Glendale, Calif., Mrs Bruce (Janey) Waterhouse, Miles, Mich., and a son that died in infancy.

September 15, 1973, she was married to Leigh Gordon of Marshall, Mo., who survives.

Other survivors include his son, Edward Gordon of Marshall, her daughters, named above, a sister, Mrs. Ethel Bricker and her husband Orville of Lenox, Iowa; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Ralph Maharry of Moline, Ill. She had nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren several nieces and nephews.

Her memorial fund was designated for the Lenox library.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday September 20, 1978

 

Hetz, Nellie Lorene Beach -

Mrs. Nelle Hetz, 98 years of age, of San Diego, Calif., died Saturday, Aug. 26. She was an aunt of Mrs. Julian Walters and Mrs. Clifford Nook of Lenox

and Bill Beach of Sharpsburg.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday August 30, 1978

 

Hetz, Nellie Lorena Beach -

Nellie Lorena Beach Hetz passed away Sat., August 26, at her home in San Diego, California, following a heart attack, at the age of 98 years, three months and 11 days.

Nellie Lorena Beach, daughter of the late George S. and Luella E. Beach, was born May 17, 1880, on the farm southwest of Lenox, where her parents settled in 1875.

She attended the Beachdale country school and Lenox High School. She studied music in Lenox, continuing on to the Conservatory of Music in Kansas City, Mo., where she was

graduated as an accomplished pianist. She returned to Lenox and spent many years teaching in and near this vicinity.

Nellie Lorena Beach and Christian Darrell Hetz were united in marriage December 19, 1914. Their union was blessed with four children. The first two years of their marriage

were spent in Battle Creek, Michigan, where her husband was a foreman at Kelloggs.

In 1916, they returned to the Lenox area and resided there until 1941, when they moved to San Diego, California. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and aunt,

dearly loved and respected by all who knew her. She found happiness in doing for others.

She was a member of the Methodist Church, and a long time member of the Order of the Eastern Star of Lenox, having affiliated with the Chapter shortly after it was organized.

Mrs. Hetz was preceded in death by her husband, Chris, her parents, three brothers and four sisters.

She leaves to honor her memory her children, Vivienne Boyles, and husband, Floyd; Norman and his wife, Mary; Donna Lou Monroe and husband, Clark; Clifford and wife,

Wanda; seven grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; her brother-in-law, Fred (Fritz) Hetz, and a host of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were conducted Tues., Aug. 29, 1978 at 2 p.m. at Salli Lynn Chapel with Rev. H.W. Mitschke officiating.

Interment was at Greenwood Memorial Park.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday September 20, 1978

 

Hill, Elizabeth Catherine Madden -

Elizabeth Catherine Hill, the daughter of Dennis and Mary Mitchell Madden, was born on January 21, 1890 in Taylor County, Iowa and passed away at the Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Corning, Iowa on August 6, 1978 at age 88.

Elizabeth lived in Lenox a number of years and attended the Lenox High School. In 1910 she was united in marriage with Charles Edwin Hill. They lived on a farm west of Lenox for many years.

To this union six children were born: Harold, Pearl, Melvin, Eva, Delma, and Jerald. Lizzie was very devoted to her family and was a kind and loving mother.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ed, her parents, an infant son Jerald, one brother Hugh Madden, a grandson Jaramie Hill, and a son-in-law Everett

Richards.

Elizabeth is survived by her children: Harold 'Pat' Hill and his wife Neva of Lenox; Pearl Rechsteiner and her husband Martin of Lenox; Melvin 'Jack' Hill and his wife Betty of Corning; Eva Moore and her husband Orlo; and Delma Richards, both of whom reside in Corning, Iowa. Also surviving are a number of grandchildren, great grandchildren,

and four sisters: Delia Boltinghouse of Lenox, Alice Cunningham of Nortonville, Kansas, and Nellie Smith and Marcel  Madden of Creston.

In addition, she is survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins and by a host of friends.

Final services were held Tuesday, August 8 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, with interment at East Fairview Cemetery in Lenox.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday August 9, 1978

 

Orr, Elmer Allen -

Elmer Allen Orr, son of Simeon B. and Alice Dunn Orr, was born March 17, 1892 in Minden, Nebraska, and departed this life August 19, 1978, at

the age of 86.

As an infant he was baptized in the United Presbyterian Church in Minden. He moved with his family to Iowa at the age of eight and has lived in the same

neighborhood southwest of Lenox since that time, attending churches in Clearfield and Lenox until his death.

On Sept. 11, 1918 he was united in marriage to Arsema Grace Aronhalt in Tingley, Iowa. To this union were born two children: Leila Gormley of Van Nuys, California and Harold Orr of Northridge, California.

Elmer was a loving husband and father and a friend to all, always willing to lend a helping hand. He was very proud of his children and grandchildren and their achievements.

After retiring from farming he especially enjoyed his gardening and flowers. He had a great sense of humor for which he will be remembered and he will be sadly missed by his family and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Mae Orr and Ethel Kreiger. He is survived by his wife, Grace; daughter Leila and husband Leo of Van Nuys, Calif.; son Harold and wife La Vawn Orr of Northridge, Calif.; grandchildren: Linda Brubaker and husband, Chris of Carlsbad, Calif.; Suzanne Gormley of North Hollywood,

Calif.; Cheryl Mather and husband Richard, of Woodland Hills, Calif.; and Linsey and Jon Orr of Northridge, Calif. Also surviving are four sisters, Alma and Myrtle Orr of Los Angeles, Calif, and Florence Orr and Bernice Clawson of Palm Desert, Calif.

Services were held Tuesday, August 22 at the United Methodist Church in Lenox with Rev. Floyd Newbrough officiating.

Organ music was provided by Norma Paymal and vocalists were Marilyn Beck and Billie Jean Barker. Pall bearers were Bill Eberle, Clyde Davis, Paul Bennett, Robert Lockhart, Bob Chaney and Harvey Wurster.

Honorary pall bearers were Bryan Eberle, Henry Beck, Don Bennett, Cecil Maharry, George Ferguson and George Jones.

Interment was at the West Fairview Cemetery. Larkin-Bender Funeral Home was in charge of the services.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday August 23, 1978

 

Pine, Allen L (Plug) -

Services were held Sunday, July 9 for Allen L. Pine, at the Stringtown Community Church with Rev. Gerald H. Rogers officiating. Music was presented by Kathleen Cook.

Pall bearers were Fred Maharry, Grady Maharry, Dan Harris, Bob Walker, Duane Pine and Toby Johnson. Interment was at the Hopeville Cemetery. Larkin-Bender Funeral

Home was in charge of the services.

Allen L. Pine, son of Frederick Aaron and Jessie Richey Pine, was born at Diagonal, Iowa on July 11, 1904 and departed this life at his farm home on July 6, 1978. From the time he was a baby, he carried the affectionate nickname of "Plug."

In 1920 the family moved to Galesburg, Illinois where he completed high school and attended Brown's Business College. He participated in football, basketball and track. He was named first team all-state as an end, and he was recently named all-time great in the state of Illinois.

He was married to Mabel Clare Gripp on December 25, 1931 in Galesburg, Illinois. Their entire life was spent farming in the Lenox and Kent vicinities. At an early age he joined the Presbyterian Church at Diagonal. After moving to the Lenox vicinity, he transferred his membership to the Stringtown Community Church, where he served in many capacities, including the church board and young people's Sunday School teacher.

He is survived by his wife, Mabel, three nieces: Irene Beck and husband Herman of Mesa, Arizona; Mary Walker and husband Robert of Brush, Colorado; Barbara Ciraolo and husband Charles of Chandler, Arizona; eight grand nieces and nephews; and three sisters-in-law: Alma Pine of Lincoln, Nebraska; Helen Gripp of St. Petersburg,

Florida; and Lucille Maharry and family of Creston, Iowa.

He was beloved by people of all ages, and his loss will be deeply mourned by all who knew him.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Thursday July 13, 1978

 

Schofield, Verne Lloyd -

Verne Lloyd Schofield, 71, of Creston passed away Wednesday, July 19 at the Greater Community Hospital after a brief illness.

He was born July 14, 1907 to Valerie Younger and Frank Schofield at Kent, Iowa. He was married August 27, 1928 to Mary Mickey and lived near Lenox

and Gowrie, Iowa, for many years.

They also lived in Idaho Falls, Idaho until moving to Creston in 1972. A retired farmer and construction worker, he was a member of the Church of Jesus

Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Survivors include his wife, Mary, two sons Wayne and wife, Agnes, of Cypress, Calif., and Lloyd and wife, Mary Lu of Lenox, and a daughter, Norma

Jean and husband. Bob Johnson of Burlington, Iowa. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren: Mike, Archie. Mary Jean, Jerry, Nancy, and Tracy Schofield

of Cypress; Jack, Bonnie Beth, and Deena Kay Schofield of Lenox; and Jackie and Bobby Johnson of Burlington. His three great grandchildren are Brad,

Jarrod and Ryan Schofield of Cypress. Also a sister, Hulda Schnkecner of Creston, and a brother, Ray Schofield of Haggerman, Idaho.

Funeral services were held July 22 at Creston. Burial was at Graceland Cemetery in Creston.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday August 2, 1978

 

Smith, Raymond Hiram -

Funeral services for Raymond Hiram Smith, 67, of Conway, la., held August 7 in the Sharpsburg United Methodist Church, were conducted by Rev. Karl Watkins. Mr. Smith died

August 5, 1978 in his home near Conway. Interment was at North Fairview Cemetery, Lenox.

Raymond Hiram Smith was born March 29, 1911 to Hiram Wates and Martha Serena King Smith in Nuckolls County, Nebr.

He was baptized as an infant into the United Bretheran Church, Nuckolls County, Nebr., and attended school there in Nelson through high school.

He was united in marriage to Mary Alice Manning of Greeley, Nebr. on February 15, 1936. To this union were born eight children: Mrs. Gerald (Mary Jane) Barker, of Lenox; Mrs. Allen (Dorothy) Barbara of Tampa, Fla.; Mrs. Robert (Geraldine) Reed, of Muir, Penn.; David Ernest Smith of Kansas City, Kans.; Mrs. Gordon (Sharon) Burgmaier of Bedford; Darlene Smith of Council Bluffs; Mrs. Chad (Vera Jean) Fisher of Omaha, Nebr., and Mrs. Frank (Rosalie) Vansevers of Tampa, Fla.

They lived in Greeley County, Nebr. their first year of marriage, then moved to Lincoln, Nebr. where he was employed as a truck driver hauling heavy machinery, and a dragline operator constructing roads for the State of Nebraska.

In the spring of 1951, they moved to Taylor County, Iowa where they have made their home until now. He took great pride in his Holstein Dairy Cows until he sold them in 1973 due to reasons of health. He also enjoyed machinery repair work for his many friends and neighbors as well as for his own farm.

He is survived by his wife; eight children; 18 grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Clarence (Clara Belle) Beale of Atlanta, Georgia; and a brother, Donald, of Silver Spring, Maryland.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Philip and a brother Homer and a grandson Stephen Baker.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday August 9, 1978

 

Spurrier, Florence Johnson Richard -

Services were held at Larkin- Bender Funeral Home Tuesday, Sept. 5 for Florence Richard Spurrier, 92, who died in a hospital in Excelsior Springs, Mo., September 2,

1978. Jack Cutbirth, pastor of the Christian, Church, officiated at the service with Ruth Boltinghouse as organist.

Casketbearers were Harley A. Porter, Carl Spring, Harold Black, Bert Shawler, Bill Campbell and Leland Hegwood. Interment was in West Fairview Cemetery at Lenox.

The daughter of Harvey B. and Elizabeth Hargis Johnson, Elizabeth Spurrier was born in Franklin County, Ky., May 23, 1886. She was 92 years, three months and nine days of age.

Friends here remember that  Elizabeth came from Missouri and worked in the millinery shop for Ivan Carey's mother.

She was married to Ernie Richard and they ran the Gamble Store until they sold it in 1946 to Mr. and Mrs. Jay Henderson. They moved to Excelsior Springs, Mo., where Mr. Richard died. His widow worked in a hospital, later was married to Bill Spurrier who preceded her in death.

She was a member of the Lenox Christian Church before transferring to the Woods Memorial Christian Church in Excelsior Springs. She was a charter

member and past matron of the Lenox O.E.S., and a 50-year member.

Survivors include Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Athen and family of Maryville, Mo., and Dennis Spurrier of Mt. Ayr, descendants of Mr. Spurrier.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday September 13, 1978

 

Tuttle, Chester -

Funeral services for Chester Tuttle, 71. of Chariton, will be held today, September 13 at 1:30 p.m. at the Fielding Funeral Home in Chariton. Mr. Tuttle died on September 10.

Interment will be in Chariton. Mr. Tuttle was a former resident of Lenox and operated a hardware store here for several years prior to his retirement in 1973. After his

retirement, he moved to Chariton. He is survived by his wife, Velma, son Frederick, of Torrence, Cal., and daughter, Mrs. Nonna Moon of Chariton.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday September 13, 1978

 

Woolley, Delbert Fred -

Delbert Fred Woolley, former Lenox resident, passed away Saturday, July 22 at the Vista Gardens Nursing Home in Red Oak after a long illness.

Delbert Fred Woolley was born May 26, 1911 in Decatur County, near Garden Grove. He moved to Red Oak 15 years ago from Marshalltown.

Mr. Woolley is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Daryl Paul of Stanton, la.; Mrs. Ronald Wurster of Lenox; Mrs. Frank Brokaw of South Bend,

Ind.; one son, Fred Woolley of Lenox; 16 grandchildren, one great grandchild and one sister, Mrs. Wilbur Smith of Florida.

There will be no services at this time because the body was donated to the University of Iowa Medical Center.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Thursday July 27, 1978