VANITA “MAXINE” DRAKE BARNETT     Vanita “Maxine” Drake Barnett was dearly loved for her wisdom, generosity and caramel pecan rolls. An avid reader and learner, Maxine often quoted Mark Twain and Robert Frost, and wore out the pages of her trusty dictionary, which was always by her side. She had no patience for hotheads or…

BYRLEE RAMSBOTTOM     Byrlee Ramsbottom, 92, of Creston, died Thursday, February 26, 2015 at Crest Haven Care Center in Creston. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at Powers Funeral Home in Creston.  Pastor Jim Morris will officiate.  Burial will be at the Graceland Cemetery in Creston, Iowa.  Open visitation will be from 1 – 5…

FREDA DARLENE SHIELDS     Freda Darlene Shields was born August 30, 1925 south of Mount Ayr to Claude (Bill) and Lula (McLain) Shields.  She later welcomed younger brother Forrest.     Freda attended country school in Caledonia through the 8th grade.  She graduated from high school in Delphos in 1943.     After graduation, Freda traveled to…

ROBERT EUGENE EASON     Robert Eugene Eason was born on September 8, 1936 in Iowa Falls, Iowa to James Russell and Florence Barbara (Remhof) Eason. He graduated from Iowa Falls High School with the class of 1954 and earned an Associate of Arts degree from Ellsworth Community College.     On May 2, 1978 Bob was…

DOYLE DEAN WOOKEY     Doyle Dean Wookey, age 78, of Grand River, Iowa, the son of William Day and Marie Viola (Norris) Wookey, was born June 19, 1936, in Osceola, Iowa.  He died at the Clearview Home in Mt. Ayr, Iowa on February 13, 2015.     Doyle attended Diamond Country Schools before graduating from Grand…

RODNEY WAYNE WARD     Rodney Wayne Ward was born December 28, 1959 in Mount Ayr, Iowa to Robert Lawrence and Deloris Marie (Abell) Ward.  Wayne graduated from Mount Ayr High School in 1978.     Wayne was united in marriage to Charlotte Lott on July 18, 1981 in Mt. Ayr. To this union three daughters were…

DICK LEE GREEN     On October 14, 1938, Dick Lee Green was born to Jacob Thomas and Neva Pearl Green near Sharpsburg, Iowa. He was the seventh of eight children and spent his growing up years on a farm west of Blockton, Iowa. During his elementary school years, Dick attended school at Athelstan, Iowa. After…

HELEN IRENE BRUNER LYDDON     Helen Irene Bruner Lyddon was born July 5, 1919 at the Dan and Blanche Bruner farm with Mable Curry assisting with her delivery. She was the youngest of eight children. Helen graduated from Clearfield High School in 1937, teaching in the rural schools for four years. May 24, 1941 she…

CARMETA JOYE THOMAS SHIELDS     Carmeta Joye Thomas Shields, age 80, the first born child of Lester Earl and Mildred Opal Weddle Thomas, was born on August 19, 1934 at the Hall place west of Grant City, MO. Her parents soon moved to north of Grant City where Lester built and operated a garage and…