CHARLOTTE ELAINE MANZER DEVEREUX
CHARLOTTE ELAINE
MANZER DEVEREUX
Charlotte Elaine Manzer Devereux, 97, daughter of Roy Colonel Manzer and Ella Mabel Whitney Manzer, was born June 3, 1915 in Pierce, Nebraska. After a short illness she passed from this life December 8, 2012.
Following high school graduation, charlotte graduated from Saint Vincent’s School of Nursing in Sioux City, Iowa. As a registered nurse she began her career at Saint Francis Hospital in Grinnell, Iowa. While in Grinnell she met and married Leo Patrick Devereux on May 6, 1941 at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Grinnell. While living on a farm south of Grinnell and raising their six children, she continued her nursing career. In addition to Saint Francis Hospital, she was a nurse in Grinnell at the Mayflower Home and Grinnell College. Following her retirement in 1977, she relocated to Newton, Iowa.
In 2007, at the age of 92, Charlotte was nominated and chosen as one of 100 Great Iowa Nurses. She said it was one of the most exciting events in her life. At the award ceremony in Des Moines, Iowa it was said that she came from a family of little means and put herself through nursing school. Her nomination letter said, ‘She has a knowledge of nursing and a gentle hand with patients and families.’ During the award ceremony the entire audience honored her with a standing ovation.
Charlotte planted and cared for flowers each spring, bringing many of them into her home to weather over the winter. They were a joy in her life up until her very last days. She also enjoyed reading books and the newspaper, crossword puzzles, caring on a lively conversation of world events and watching sporting events on TV. She wrote poetry and made handmade Valentines for family members. She was very involved in the lives of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She lived in her own apartment and drove her own car until the past few months when she moved to Newton Village Assisted Living.
Charlotte was preceded in death by her husband, Leo; daughters, Joan Devereux Haning and Catherine and Susan Devereux; her father; her mother, and brothers, Don, Kenneth and Elwyn Manzer and sister, Darlene Boughn, and their spouses.
She is survived by her daughter, Mary Ellen Devereux Taylor and husband, Carroll, of Mount Ayr, Iowa; son, John Devereux and Cynthia Devereux of Newton, Iowa; daughter, Diane Devereux Versendaal and husband Arie of Newton, Iowa; grandchildren, Anne Taylor of Mount Ayr, Iowa, Brian Taylor of Portland, Oregon, Kathleen Taylor Coulson and husband Scott, Monica Taylor Walters and husband Wayne, Joseph Taylor and MaiLynn Taylor, all of Mount Ayr, Iowa, Lisa Versendaal and LeAnn Versendaal Zach of Newton; great-grandchildren, Gabrielle Hunke and Quinn and Ben Coulson of Mount Ayr, and many nieces and nephews.
Following cremation, a memorial service and burial will be conducted at 2 p.m. December 13 at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell. Deacon Dan Goetz of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newton will preside.
