Area Obituaries

Halsie Lynn Barnes was born on February 5, 2004, at Methodist Hospital in Des Moines in the middle of a blizzard. She was welcomed by her parents, Shannon and Tracy (Henry) Barnes. Fifteen months later she was blessed with her sister, Linsie, and three years later another sister, Kensie. Halsie was like a little mother…

Ella Jo Leonard was born on November 7, 2003, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, IA. She was welcomed home by her parents, David and Nikki (Mains) Leonard. Five and a half years later, she was joined by a sister, Ava. Ella started out trying all kinds of sports but found her passion…

Visitation for Halsie Barnes will be held at the First Christian Church in Mount Ayr on Friday, July 28; open from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family present at the church from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, July 29 at the Mount Ayr High School Gymnasium.…

Randell Earl Brown, son of Walter Lee and Aldah Lavaun (Waggoner) Brown, was born April 18, 1933, at home in rural Ringgold County, IA. Randell has several nicknames but was mostly known as “Brownie.” Randell graduated from Beaconsfield Consolidated School. He furthered his education with two years of correspondence course in automotive mechanics. Randell served…

Bobby Ray Pottorff, Sr. was born on December 6, 1936, to Glenn and Leona (Cook) Pottorff at the family’s home in Mount Ayr, IA. He was the third of six children. He passed away peacefully on July 12, 2023, at Clearview Nursing Home in Mount Ayr, IA. Bob graduated from Mount Ayr High School in…

Anna Yvonne (Austin) Galloway was born on February 23, 1933, to Glenn and Maggie (Scammahorn) Austin at her family’s home near Redding, IA. She was welcomed into the presence of her Savior on July 10, 2023. As the first of four children, she later welcomed brothers Marvin, Bill and Doyle. Since she was the only…

     Wilma Bernice Messina was born on November 21, 1927, to William and Emily Maude (Pearce) Deemer “south of Decatur City, IA on the Walter Osborn place”. Her birth certificate records her to be the ninth child born to the family, but twin brother, Wayne, placed the count to ten, on that day. Wilma was one…

Helen Hetzel Newton was born May 30, 1927, to Charles A. and Grace Bastow Hetzel of Mount Ayr, IA, the eldest of their three daughters. She was reared and educated in Mount Ayr and graduated from Mount Ayr High School as valedictorian of the Class of 1945. She also received a BS degree in home…

Colman Gene Phillips was born on May 7th, 1975, in St. Joseph, Missouri. He spent the first part of his life living in Mount Ayr with his mother and sister, Colleen and Truda Phillips. When Colman was 13, his mom married Tom Kelly and the family moved to Redding, Iowa. Colman continued his education in…

Jeanne (Aylward) Hawley, daughter of Leonard and Jessie (Bell) Aylward, was born September 19, 1937, in Vail, Iowa. She grew up on a farm north of Vail and graduated from Vail High School in 1956. On August 21, 1956, Jeanne was united in marriage with Richard “Ted” Hawley at the Vail Presbyterian Church. After the…