Allen, Mary Margaret Moore -

Memorial services for Mary Margaret (Moore) Allen, age 92 of Creston, formerly

of Gravity, who died Sunday, January 13, 2008 at Creston Nursing & Rehab were held

Saturday, January 19, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at the Ritchie Funeral Home. Burial of ashes

was held in the Washington Cemetery in Gravity. Memorials can be given in her name.

Memories can be shared with the family on our website at www.ritchiefuneralhome.

com under Obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home

of Bedford.

Mary Margaret (Moore) Allen was the youngest daughter born to Johnnie J. Moore

and Alice (Dwyer) Moore. She was born in Corning, Iowa on August 1, 1915. She was

baptized at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Corning when she was six months old.

The family moved from a farm north of Corning which today is a part of "Lake Icara".

They purchased a farm one mile south of Gravity, and a mile east in 1921.

Mary Margaret attended grade school at Lee No. 7 Rural School, Washington Township,

Taylor Count. She attended Gravity High School, graduating with the class of

1933. She may be remembered by some as a 'starguard' on the basketball team for

three years. After high school she received her teaching certificate from

Corning while attending a summer school session at a branch educational facility

from Cedar Falls Teacher's College of Iowa. She taught rural school in Ross and

Washington Townships, located in Taylor County, Iowa for fourteen years.

On August 29, 1947, she was united in marriage to Dean Calvin Allen in Plattsmouth,

Nebraska. To this union one son, John Dean, was born on August 9, 1948. John passed

away February 2, 1956, a victim of Leukemia.

Mary Margaret began substitute teaching in the Omaha Public Schools, teaching

in grades one through six. Husband Dean worked as a warehouse manager at

Johnson Wax Company and later at the United Distiller Liquor Company.

Mary Margaret attended Omaha University receiving her Bachelor's Degree in

Elementary Education, as well as a Master's Degree at Creighton University of Omaha.

She then taught twenty-six years at Adams School in Omaha, serving as a head

teacher for sixteen years, as well as library supervisor. She was also instrumental in

pioneering the "Challenge Program" for the 4th, 5th, and 6th graders of Adams

School, with the capable assistance of the late Craig Tullerton, Assistant

Superintendent of the Omaha Elementary Schools.

Mary Margaret was gifted with an outgoing personality and readily made friends.

She was known to "speak her mind at times" on various subjects. Some people

thought she would never shut-up, but that didn't seem to bother her "chatterbox

ability". She enjoyed writing letters, writing as she talked, most happy to keep

in touch with old friends.

Left to cherish Mary Margaret's memory are several cousins, nieces, nephews and

a host of dear friends.

Preceding Mary Margaret in death were parents; her son John Dean; her husband

Dean; three brothers, Bill, Edward (Irish) and Claude Moore; three sisters, Julia

Hendrickson, Catherine Moore; and Agnes Wintermute.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday January 23, 2008

Calvin, James (Speck) Coolidge -

Funeral services for James "Speck" Calvin, age 83 of Lenox, Iowa, who died

Wednesday, December 26, 2007 at Mercy Hospital, Council Bluffs, Iowa were

held Saturday, December 29, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at the Methodist Church, Lenox,

Iowa with Pastor Gerry Kahler officiating. Visitation with the family was held Friday,

December 28, 2007 at the Ritchie Funeral Home, Lenox, Iowa. Burial with military

rites were in the North Fairview Cemetery, Lenox, Iowa. Memorials in his honor

may be directed to James "Speck" Calvin memorial fund. Memories and Condolences

may be shared with the family on our web page, www.ritchiefuneralhome.com under

Obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Lenox.

James "Speck" Coolidge Calvin was born in Chadwick, Missouri on November 4, 1924,

and passed away peacefully on December 26, 2007 at the age of 83 following a short

illness.

His parents, Arthur and Laura (Lowe) Calvin, and his brothers, Hudson "Hud" and Jack,

and sisters, Opal and Helen, preceded him in death. Surviving him are his loving wife of

almost 64 years, Alberta; his brothers Willard "Gabby" of Jasper, Missouri, and Paul

and his wife Vada of Lenox, Iowa; his sister Juanita of Lenox, Iowa; his son Doug and

his wife Lynn of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin; Doug's family, Todd and Karen Calvin and their

children (Ryan, Bradley, Ashley) of Itasca, Illinois, Kristine (Calvin) and Richard Ray and

their children (Richard, Deven) of Woodridge, Illinois, and Mitchell of Bettendorf, Iowa.

Also surviving him are Hazel Stoaks, Lela Spoonemore and Wilma Gray, all of Lenox, Iowa,

their families, and the families of Alberta's departed brothers and sisters.

Speck's life began with an interesting coincidence. Calvin Coolidge happened to be

elected President of the United States the very day that Speck was born. Consequently,

Speck was given the middle name Coolidge. The Calvin family moved to Lenox from the

Missouri Ozarks when he was an infant, and he lived the balance of his life in Lenox.

Speck attended several rural schools and graduated from Lenox High School in the

class of 1943. During his high school days, Speck was an accomplished scholar and athlete.

Alberta and Speck were united in marriage on January 24, 1944. Shortly after their

marriage, with the onset of World  War II, Speck entered the United States Army

and served with distinction  in an artillery unit until 1946. Following his military

service, Speck and Alberta returned to Lenox, and Speck started working in the Calvin

family trucking business. Their son and only child, Doug, was born in 1946, Speck was

appointed the  Lenox Postmaster in 1951 at the age of 25, and held that position until

he retired in 1982.

Speck's entire life was devoted to Alberta, his family, and  his friends. He was a

member of the Lenox United Methodist Church, the American Legion Post 250, the

Lenox Rotary  Club, and the National Association of Postmasters. Speck was

awarded certificates for over 50 years of participation in both the

American Legion and the Rotary Club. At the time of his death, he was the longest

serving member of the Lenox Rotary.

During their retirement years, Speck and Alberta enjoyed many activities such as

spending the winter in San Juan, Texas, and working in the Administration Building

at the Iowa State Fair. Between these activities, Speck enjoyed coffee with his

friends at his favorite meeting place - the Tiger Den - where he enjoyed chatting

about the weather, local happenings, or years gone by. He had an amazing ability to

remember all aspects of life in Lenox, such as who married who, where people lived

or moved, connections between families, and the history of Lenox in general.

Two other activities were extremely important to Speck - Christmas with the family

at Doug and Lynn's home, and pheasant hunting around Lenox with family and friends.

Card games during Christmas wouldn't have been the same without Speck's outrageous

bidding and storytelling. During his elder years, Speck didn't do much actual hunting,

but was always at the end of the farm field to pick up the hunters and provide

coffee and doughnuts.

Most people that knew Speck well acknowledge he had two most distinguishing

personal characteristics. First, he was a very generous person. Speck was always

available to help family and friends with time, energy, and financial resources.

Second, he was very deliberate. Speed was never his forte, but once he decided

a course of action, he was determined and dependable.

Alberta, his family, and all of his friends will miss him dearly.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday January 2, 2008

Cox, John (Butch) -

John "Butch" Cox, 58 years old, of Crescent, Iowa, passed away January 14,

2008 at his home.

He was born in Corning, Iowa and graduated from Red Oak High School. He

was a former resident of Red Oak, Glenwood, Iowa, moving to Crescent

in 1993. He was owner and operator of Free Bird Enterprise. He served

in the Iowa National Guard and was an avid motorcycle rider.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Glenna Lee (Norton) Cox on July 4,

2002.

Survivors include his daughter, Alicia Pettigrew, husband Brent, Crescent;

sons: Chris Cox, wife Kami, Glenwood; Mike Cox, Red Oak; grandsons,

Christian Cox, Glenwood; Gaberiel Pettigrew, Crescent; Zachery and Shane

Cox of Red Oak; granddaughter Emma Glenna Lee Pettigrew, Crescent;

parents, Glen and Ruth Dorr, Weslaco, Texas; sister, Jackie Porter,

Des Moines; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Glenn and Donna Norton of

Lenox.

Funeral services were held Monday, Jan. 21 at Cutlcr-O'Neill-Meyer

Woodring Funeral Home with burial at North Fairview Cemetery in Lenox.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday January 30, 2008

Cross, Miles Albert -

Funeral services for Miles Albert Cross, Sr., 67, Mt. Etna,

were held Friday, Dec. 14, 2007 at Pearson-Coen-Beaty

Family Funeral Service of Corning with Rev. Eddie Simmons

officiating. Burial was at Forrest Hill, Mt. Etna. He died

December 10, 2007 at his home in Mt. Etna.

Miles Albert Cross was born March 4, 1940 at Carbon, Iowa

to Elvon John Cross and Eliza Elizabeth Robison. He married

Marilyn Kay Ward in Marshalltown on April 1, 1958. He attended

Westinghouse School for heat pumps and several correspondence

corps. He was in the United States Marine Corps

from 1957-1961. He was a licensed electrician and carpenter.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Elvon John and

Eliza Elizabeth Robison Cross, brothers, Retired Lt. Co. Patrick

Elvin and wife Betty, Forest Theodore "Ted" (wife Lois) Cross,

Jesse Lee "Red" (Beverly) Cross, Ernest Webster (wife Lila)

Cross; Fletcher Charles (wife Nellie) Cross; Estell Curtis (wife

Virginia) Cross; Maxwell Stanley (wife Alice) Cross; sisters:

Gladys Scellestine Cross (husband Britt) Willits; Lillian "Hillis"

Cross (husband Ronald) Simmons; Darlene Clarabelle Cross

(husband Ralph) Fusselman; Sarah Lorraine Cross.

He is survived by children, daughter, Tammy Kay Cross

(husband Dale), Whitnah, Oregon, Mo., sons: Terry Dean (Wife

Joan) Cross, Corning; Miles Albert (wife Shelly Freshour)

Cross, Jr., Mt. Etna, Donald Wesley "Woody" (wife Ruth Ann

Campbell) Cross, Mt. Etna; sisters, Geraldine "Jeri" Elva Cross

(husband Donald) Ward, Atlantic; Atha Elizabeth "Kitty" Cross,

(husband Bill) Johnson; 19 grandchildren; seven stepchildren;

several step grandchildren; six great grandchildren.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday December 19, 2007

Curphey, Thurman L -

Thurman L. Curphey 90 died in Maryville, MO, January 4, 2007. He was born April 15,

1917, on a farm near Sargent NE, where his grandfather, John Thomas Curphey had

homesteaded. His parents were Ross Edward Curphey and Effie Elizabeth Cowan

Curphey.

He moved to Lenox, IA in 1920. He attended Lenox Schools, loved playing football,

and graduated in 1936. After working as a surveyor for the CCC, he married Anabel

Pennebaker and started farming near Sharpsburg, IA. He often said he farmed

because that was what he enjoyed doing most.

Thurman spent many years serving his community. He taught the high school Sunday

school class, and was active in other activities in the Sharpsburg Presbyterian

Church where he was an elder. He also was Worshipful Master of Masons in Conway,

IA. He spent many years on the school boards of both Sharpsburg and Lenox school

systems, was a member of the Worldwide Church of God, bowling league member in

Lenox, and sold farm chemicals.

Fishing was a great joy to him. A group of local men would go on a trip once or twice

a year in the Spirit Lake area during their "down time" of farming. Later, he built his

own one acre lake to fish after a long day of farming. Many friends and relatives

enjoyed his pond.

Thurman and Anabel had four children. After Thurman nursed Anabel during her long

illness and death in November, 1982. He married Dorothy Millikan in August 1983. After

her death in February 1995, he married Geneva Beckett in April 1996. She died in June

2003.

Thurman was preceded in death by his parents Ross Curphey, Effie Reynolds;

wives: Anabel Curphey, Dorothy Curphey and Geneva Curphey; Son, Alan Curphey;

grandchildren: Sherry Lee Sprague, and Meredith Lea Greene. Brother, Kenneth

Curphey.

Left to cherish his memory are his children: Sheryl (Bud) Brown, of Creston, IA;

Sandee (Garvin) Greene, of Knoxville, TN; Lloyd (Avis) Curphey, Maryville, MO;

Grandchildren: Richard (Kathy) Curphey, IA; Michael (Elizabeth) Curphey, TX;

Gary Curphey, IA; Howard (Mary) Sprague, MD; Duane (April) Sprague, IA;

Michelle Greene, TN; Andrew (Denise) Greene, WA; Sane (Angela) Curphey, MO;

Todd (Christian) Curphey, MO., 20 great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild.

Mr. Curphey's Memorial service will be held 1:00 Saturday, January 12, 2008 at

the Presbyterian Church in Sharpsburg, IA. The Rev. Tim Maxa will be the officiant.

The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. to noon at the church. Inurnment will

be held later in Lenox, IA. The family suggests memorial to the Sharpsburg

Presbyterian church. Services are under the direction of the Bram Funeral

Home of Maryville, Inc. Online condolences: www.bramfunralhe.com.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday January 9, 2008

Fletchall, Sexton Andrew -

Sextott Andrew Fletchall was born February 12, 1957 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

to Elbert and Bonnie (Jones) Fletchall, and passed away Sunday, January 6, 2008

at the Alegent Bergan Medical Center in Omaha, Ne.

Sexton was a former resident of Allendale and Grant City, Mo. and has lived in

Sharpsburg, Iowa the past eight years. He did mechanical work most of his working

life, but his last employment was with Michael foods in Lenox, Iowa as a machine

sanitizer.

He was preceded in death by his father, Elbert, a brother Erron, and a sister, Tina

Maria Fletchall.

Sexton is survived by Denise Fletchall of the home; children, Alfred Fletchall of

Sharpsburg, Iowa, Jeanny Camden of Gravity, Iowa, Jack Marler of Lenox, Iowa, and

Amanda Hamblen of Sharpsburg, Iowa; mother, Bonnie Fletchall of Grant City,

Mo.; brothers, Cinco Fletchall of Oskaloosa, Iowa, and Guy Fletchall of Grant City Mo.;

sisters, Del Rio Bolinger of Lenox, Iowa, Delia Gray of Hopkins, Mo., and DiAnna

Wake of Sheridan, Mo.; five grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Graveside memorial services were held Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008 at the Allendale

Cemetery, Allendale, Mo. under the direction of Prugh-Dunfee Funeral Home of

Grant City, Mo.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday January 16, 2008

Foote, J B -

Funeral services for J.B. Foote, 58, of Lenox, were held Wednesday, Dec. 19,

2007 at Pearson-Coen-Beaty Family Funeral Service in Lenox with Rev. Tim Maxa

officiating. Burial was in North Fairview Cemetery, Lenox.

J.B. Foote was born June 14, 1949 in Council Bluffs, Iowa to Basil Percy Foote and

Juanita Dorothy Carmen. He married Loretta Ann Sturm on August 22, 1968 at

Council Bluffs.

J.B. has lived in Taylor County since 1984 and has lived in Lenox since 2000. J.B.

worked at Ewald's Drive-In as a young boy. He worked for the Federal Building

in Omaha as a custodial while living in Council Bluffs. J.B. worked for Taylor

County Road Department, then worked for Bedford Schools from 1987-1999.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Alfred "Butch" Mier.

He is survived by his spouse, Loretta Foote of Lenox; children, Tammy Foote

(husband Gilberto Rodrigues), Lenox; J.B. Foote, Jr. (fiance Debra Crisp),

Bedford; Randall (Rebecca) Foot, Lenox; Keith (Brenda) Foote, Lenox; Denny

(Cheri) Foote, Lenox; and Nichole (Chris) Davis, Rainbow, Texas; 16 grandchildren;

brothers Basil Foote, Jr. and Randy Foote, both of Council Bluffs; sisters,

Rhonda Wallin, Council Bluffs and Evelyn "Sis" Casto, Lake Havasu, Az.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday December 26, 2007

Freemyer, Lilah Ellen Sickels -

Funeral services for Lilah Freemyer, age 98 of Clarinda, Iowa, formerly of Bedford,

Iowa who died Monday, January 14, 2008 at Westridge Care and Rehab Center,

Clarinda, Iowa were held Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at the Ritchie Funeral

Home, Bedford, Iowa. Visitation was held 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., Thursday, prior

to the service at the funeral home. Burial was in the Athelstan Cemetery, Athelstan,

Iowa. Memorials can be directed to the Athelstan Cemetery. Memories and

condolences may be shared with the family on our web page www.ritchiefuneralhome.

com under Obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of

Bedford, Iowa.

Lilah Ellen (Sickels) Freemyer was born August 1, 1909 in Phillipsburg, Kansas,

the daughter of Walter Sickels and Viola (Gibson) Sickels. She was the oldest of seven

children. Her family moved to Parnell, Missouri area when she was twelve years of age.

They later moved to Athelstan, Iowa. There she met and married Ansel J. Freemyer,

January 4, 1926. Five children were born to this union; Marcelene, Alvis, Betty,

Virginia and Carolyn. They moved to Minnesota where her parents lived and

worked on her parent's farm. Later, they moved back to Iowa to help on Ansel's

father's farm.

Lilah had several jobs which included working at the school in Conway, Iowa, a

hairdresser, seamstress and many homes were wall papered to perfection by her

busy hands.

Lilah's home was always warm and loving, where everyone was always welcome.

Lilah was a devoted wife, daughter, mother and grandmother. Her family was a

very important part of her life.

Lilah is survived by her daughter, Marcelene Goudie of Clarinda, Iowa, Betty Beemer

and husband, Dean of Cody, Wyoming, Virginia Slemp and husband Loren of Union,

Missouri, Carolyn Hiatt and husband Bruce of Cheyenne, Wyoming; sixteen grandchildren;

twenty three great grandchildren and ten great, great grandchildren; sister-in-law,

Lois Sickels of Holdredge, Nebraska.

Preceding Lilah in death were her parents, Walt and Viola Sickels; son, Alvis

Freemyer; son-in-law, Melvin Goudie; two grandsons, Mike Slemp and Jason Holt; two

granddaughters, Connie Goudie and Shannon Freemeyer.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday January 23, 2008