JUANITA MARIE (MORROW) MATTHEWS

    Juanita Marie (Morrow) Matthews was one of ten children of Ervin Edward Morrow and Ethel Mae (Strong) Morrow. She was born January 22, 1923 in Diagonal, Iowa and graduated from Diagonal High School in 1940. On March 17, 1941 she was united in marriage to Carrol Perry Matthews of Clearfield, Iowa in Gallatin, Missouri. To this union a son Robert Edward and one daughter Janis Elaine were born. They have three grandchildren: Julie Ann (Matthews) McKay, John Edward Matthews and Christopher Patrick Ambrose. They have two great-grandchildren Jodi McKay and Cole Matthews.
    In December of 1945, the family moved to Carrol’s grandparents farm near Maloy, Iowa after the war where Carrol farmed and Juanita was a homemaker for three years. In 1949, they bought a farm on the west edge of Diagonal. They built a house and surrounding buildings where they have resided for 52 years together. They were privileged to raise their family in a caring community.
    Juanita and Carrol continued raising cattle after retirement. She enjoyed gardening and keeping the farm looking nice and really enjoyed spending time with their children and grandchildren.
    Preceding her in death were her parents, Ervin and Ethel Morrow; husband Carrol; nine siblings, Esther, Leonard, “Pete” Loren, Lela, Alma, Ken, Cleon, Don and Elaine; one granddaughter Dusty Nicole Dodson; one great-grandson Joshua McKay.
    Survivors include her son Robert Matthews of Diagonal; daughter Janis (Robert) Imhoff of Atlantic; three grandchildren Julie McKay of Seymour, John (Sandra) Matthews of Smithville, Mo. and Chris (Tina) Ambrose of Diagonal; two great-grandchildren Jodi McKay and Cole Matthews.
    Services were held at the United Church of Diagonal in Diagonal, Iowa at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 1, 2015 with Pastor Ed Shields officiating. Casketbearers were Chris Ambrose, John Matthews, Denny Morrow, John Whittington, Robert Schlapia and Mark Schlapia. Honorary pallbearers were Bill Andrews, Bob Andrews, Dick Hower, Lawrence Rychnovsky, Alvin Schlapia, Ron Schlapia and Dale Olney. Burial is in the Diagonal Cemetery. Memorial funds have been established to the Diagonal Printing Museum, the United Church of Diagonal, and Fogle Lake.