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Helen Jessie Straight October 20, 1911 – April 21, 2010

Helen Jessie Straight, daughter of Roy Nickle and Mary Charity (Ledgerwood) Nickle was born October 20, 1911 in Ringgold county. She attended school in rural Ringgold county and graduated from Clearfield high school in 1929. She taught school for four years following graduation.

Jessie and Vernon met at a dance. They were married on June 2, 1934 and established their home on a farm south of Sharpsburg, Iowa. Later they moved to Bedford, Iowa where they lived for eight years. Then they farmed for a few years in Ringgold county before they purchased a farm east of Conway, Iowa where they resided from February 1948 until moving into Clearfield, Iowa in 1976. She was an active member of the Christian church and Eastern Star and also enjoyed her card club.

She was a past member of the Federated Club.

Jessie passed away on April 21, 2010 at the Clearview Nursing Home in Mount Ayr. She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon, in 2006; her parents and Vernon’s parents; two sisters, Edna Nord and Lois Straight; three sisters-in-law, Hazel Bishoff, Edna Straight and Helen Hunter; four brothers-in-law, Marion Straight, Lee Straight, Lyle Nord and G.C. Hofmeister.

Left to cherish her memory are daughter Patricia Lee Straight of Holmen, Wisconsin; son Donald Dean Straight and wife Marilyn of Boone, Iowa; sister Beatrice Hofmeister of Denver, Colorado; grandson David Otradovec and wife Robin of Denver, Colorado; granddaughter Terry Hanson and husband Steve of Bangor, Wisconsin; three stepgrandchildren Brad and Sharron Johnson of Galena, Missouri, Laurie and Troy Engleen of Ogden, Iowa and Kerry and Justin Weeces of Ames, Iowa, and several great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.

A memorial fund has been established to Hospice of Central Iowa in Mount Ayr. Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Clearfield was in charge of the arrangements.

Services were conducted at the  Christian Church in Clearfield on Monday, April 26, 2010, with Rev. Terry Roberts officiating. Musicians were Becky Nelson and Mary Ellen Spurrier.

Casket bearers included Charles Jackson, Jim Mason, John Pirtle, Jerry Ewalt, Dwayne Cason and A.J. Cason.

 Honorary pallbearers were Dale Juergens and Loren Bolinger. 

Jessie was laid at rest in the Clearfield Cemetery, Clearfield.

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