Irene Helen Davenport Elliott October 15, 1914 – May 8, 2011
Irene Helen Davenport Elliott, daughter of Effie (Banks) Davenport and John Davenport, was born on her family farm south of Kellerton, Iowa on October 15, 1914. She passed away at the Lamoni Nursing & Rehab Center in Lamoni, Iowa on May 8, 2011 at the age of 96 years, five months and eight days.
Irene was raised near Kellerton and attended the Kellerton Community school for 12 years. Irene publicly confessed Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and was received into full membership in the Kellerton United Methodist Church on June 10, 1945.
Irene and Raymond Elliott were united in marriage on August 29, 1931 in Bethany, Missouri by Rev. Dotson. The first years of their marriage were spent in Lamoni while Raymond worked as a farmhand for Dave Dancer. After a few years they had saved enough money for a down payment on their farm home near Kellerton, which was in the Davenport family for 100 years, where they raised their two daughters, Peggy and Betty.
Irene was a 50+ year member of Valentine Rebekah Lodge 528 in Kellerton where she served as Noble Grand. She was a 4-H leader as her daughters were in the Riley Blue Bells 4-H club. Irene loved her flower garden and shared her flowers as they bloomed with anyone who stopped along the road. She would also share the seeds for next year’s spring planting.
Irene was a hard-working farm wife and partner with husband Raymond. Their grandchildren loved to spend time at their home in the summer and Irene and Raymond were great grandparents to them.
After Raymond’s passing in November of 1978, Irene moved into Lamoni. She would eventually become a resident of the Lamoni Nursing & Rehab Center and was blessed to have Doris Reed as her roommate. Doris took very good care of Irene and the family appreciated their friendship.
Irene was preceded in death by her mother, Effie; father, John, and two brothers, John and Harold Davenport.
Survivors include her two daughters, Peggy Brown of Vista, California and Betty Shader of Dow City, Iowa; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren, and other relatives and friends.
A memorial fund has been established to the American Diabetes Association. Arrangements were entrusted to Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr.
Services were conducted at the United Methodist Church in Lamoni on Wednesday, May 11, 2011, with Rev. Rick Hawkins officiating. Musicians included Susan Williams and Don Breshears.
Casket bearers included Harold Green, Roger Elliott, Randy Sly, Craig Boswell, Denny Sly and Ronald Smith.
Honorary pallbearers were Michael Sly, Matthew Sly, Justin Boswell, Brian Sly, Jason Boone, Nicholas Brown and Michael Boone.
Irene was laid at rest in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Lamoni.
