Area Obituaries

Ernest Eldon “Ernie” Mercer, age 85, of Kellerton, Iowa, passed away peacefully on January 17, 2026, at Mount Ayr Health Care. He lived a life grounded in faith, family, and a deep love for the land he farmed for more than sixty years. Ernie was born on March 10, 1940, to Clarence Ernest Mercer and…

Sherry Little Swinton, 89, passed away at Wesley on Grand in Des Moines, Iowa on January 11, 2026. Funeral services will be held at Grace United Methodist Church in Des Moines at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 16, 2026, with visitation starting at 9:30 a.m. Memorial contributions may be directed to Families Forward. The Swinton…

Hazel Esther Jackson, daughter of Homer and Diamond (Bowman) Ruckman, was born May 10, 1930, at Diagonal, Iowa. Hazel attended and graduated from Mount Ayr High School. Following graduation, Hazel worked as a secretary for the Ringgold County attorney. On December 15, 1949, Hazel was united in marriage to John Delbert Jackson at the Baptist…

Carl Lawrence (Larry) Ford was born May 29, 1940, on a farm near Tingley, Iowa to Carl J and Ann Smith Ford. He was later joined by Thomas Edward, John Alan (passed away at birth), and Carla Ann. He attended Tingley School where he rode his pony Little Joe every day, graduating from Tingley in…

Born July 26, 1930, in a tenant farmhouse in Delphos, Iowa, Doris Marguerite Pratt arrived as one half of a mischievous twin pair alongside brother Donald Marvin – the youngest of Clark and Effie Pratt’s family of five boys and five girls. Her father’s response became family lore: “It’s time to quit when they start…

Kenneth Eugene Stephens was born to Eileen Pritchett Mason and Donald Stephens on March 5,1952, in Mt. Ayr, Iowa. He peacefully passed away December 24, 2025, at home surrounded by his loving family and friends. When Ken was young, he and his family, along with younger sister Kathy, moved to Longmont, Colorado. In his early…

Robert “Bob” D. Richardson passed away on November 23, 2025, in New London, IA. He was born on October 14, 1926, to Homer and Florence (Bean) Richardson at home in Mount Ayr, Iowa. He married Pauline Toland on November 25, 1950. Bob was a farmer in Ringgold County, Iowa. He also worked for Maynes Realty.  Bob…

Preston Loring Hayse was born February 7, 1942, to John Robert Hayse and Virginia Estella LaShier Hayse in Mitchell, South Dakota. He was named after his two uncles on either side. The family moved back to Sioux City, Iowa to be closer to other family before Preston started kindergarten. He grew up hunting with his…

Merry Ann (Nichols) Swank was born in Creston, IA on January 19, 1948, to Arthur Franklin and Wilma Charlene (Borrusch) Nichols. She joined an older brother and sister. The family lived on a farm near Tingley for more than fifty years. She attended school at Tingley and Mount Ayr. On August 24, 1964, Merry Ann…

A memorial Service for Barb Swank, 74, of Lenox, Iowa will be held Friday, December 19, 2025 at the Lenox Presbyterian Church, at 11 a.m.. The visitation will be held Friday, December 19, 2025 at the Lenox Presbyterian Church from 10 a.m. until service time. Inurnment will be held at North Fairview Cemetery in Lenox.…

Lois Anne Sobotka, was born July 27, 1935, to Cecil and Lois Allen. She passed away at the age of 90 on Monday, December 8, 2025, at the Clearview Nursing Home in Mount Ayr Iowa. Lois Anne grew up on a farm near Knowlton northwest of Diagonal. She attended the Knowlton School and the Jefferson…

Pauline Leveta Murphy passed away at her home in Inspirations of Mesa senior living in Mesa, Arizona, on Wednesday, December 10, 2025. Pauline was born on July 16, 1925, in Osage City, Kansas, to Joshua “Joker” and Merzetta (Fender) Hillebran. The family, including Pauline’s two older sisters, moved to Iowa, where the girls grew up…