Frances Geneva Matthews Fisher December 31, 1925 – August 23, 2011
Frances Geneva Matthews Fisher was born on December 31, 1925 in Delphos, Iowa and left this earth on August 23, 2011 at the Ringgold County Hospital. She was the youngest of nine children born to Rose and Fletch Matthews. Neva attended elementary school in Delphos and later graduated from Mount Ayr high school with the class of 1944. She worked at Horne Hardware in her high school and young adult life.
Neva was baptized at an early age while attending the Baptist church in Mount Ayr. She was married to Robert Fisher at the First Christian Church where they continued membership.
In 1951 Neva and Bob built a house on Dunning Avenue where they raised two daughters, Angela and Joan. Bob, his brother-in-law and his father, Keith, owned and operated Mount Ayr Implement Co. where Neva helped with the bookkeeping. Neva was involved with church, many volunteer groups, clubs and community betterment activities. She enjoyed entertaining and sang for many years with the Choral Club/Ringgold Singers.
Church activities were central to Neva’s life. She taught Sunday school for 60 plus years, directed the choir, worked as a camp counselor, served as an elder and sang for countless funerals. Neva considered the writing and directing of an Easter drama as one of her greatest accomplishments.
Neva adored her grandchildren and created scrapbooks chronicling their lives. Each scrapbook involved hundreds of hours of work and they have become priceless to each member of the family.
Neva was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; her parents; eight siblings; one infant grandson, and a stepgrandson.
Her legacy lives on through her daughters, Angela and husband Darrell and Joan and husband Norman and her grandchildren, Annie (Rick) Schweitzberger, Nicolas Rizer, Robert Cale Rizer, Jentry (Daniel) Graham and Jayni Rizer. Grandma ‘Neenee’ was loved by her great-grandchildren, Dylan, Drew and Emrey.
Funeral services were Friday, August 26, at the First Christian Church in Mount Ayr with Rev. Chris Conklin officiating. Music was provided by Jane Thomas, Joan Rizer and John Allen.
Pallbearers included Norman Rizer, Darrell Dodge, Nic Rizer, Cale Rizer, Rick Schweitzberger and Daniel Graham.
Honored guests were Alvin Cross, Ginny Eighmy, Cleola Geist, Lloyd and Laverne Glendenning, Betty Griffith, Doris Hannon, Cleone Hosfield, Beulah Hutchinson, Edna Jones, Sybil Kelley, Jim Mahan, Grace Moser, Robert and Marilyn Richards, Kathy Rinehart, Nina Saltzman, Helen Terry, Hugh and Kay Terwilliger, Leroy and Betty Jean Trimble, Jean and Gerold Willey and the First Christian Church Sunday school class.
Burial was in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Mount Ayr. A memorial fund has been established to the First Christian Church. Arrangements were by Watson-Armstrong Funeral home in Mount Ayr.
