Area Obituaries

On June 16, 1924, Beulah L. was born to Frank and Loretta Patterson Parkis in Guthrie County, IA. The family was later joined by a brother, Robert. Moving from that farm to Adair County as a small child, she attended rural school. She graduated from Greenfield High School in 1941. She worked at a dairy…

Loretta Ann (Lantz) Cordell age 84 of Redding, IA, died peacefully on January 9, 2023, after a long bout with COPD. Ann was born January 13, 1938, in Redding, IA, to Vernon William and Lorene Freda Norris Lantz. With the exception of a few years in California during the War, Ann grew up in Redding,…

Twyla Lynette Taylor Breckenridge entered the gates of heaven on December 27, 2022. Twyla was born October 14, 1947, to Wayne and Rowena (Eighme) Taylor of Diagonal, IA. Twyla graduated from Diagonal High School. She was active in many musical activities and was the drum majorette for the marching band. Twyla was a talented musician…

Patricia Cerena (Fleming) Barnes was born August 1, 1923, at home near Diagonal to parents, George and Mary Fleming. Patti’s siblings were Ray, Rex, Beatrice and Beverly. Patricia, at age 14 months, was awarded 1st place and a gold medal in a Baby Health Contest at the 1924 Iowa State Fair. Her sisters also received…

Kathleen (Kathy) Kay Huff Garner was born October 25, 1956, in Mount Ayr, IA to Don and Connie Huff. Kathy grew up in the Ellston and Mount Ayr area, graduating from Mount Ayr High School. Kathy worked at the cap factory, Mount Ayr Products, Hormel and most recently at Walmart as a Department Lead. She…

Helen Shelden of Marion, IA went to be with her Lord on Sunday, December 18, 2022, at the age of 87 surrounded by her loving family. Visitation will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion, IA. Funeral service will follow…

Marilyn Leona, daughter of Elmer Alexander and Verna Grace (Fine) Starmer, was born at home, in Union County, IA on December 17, 1938. Marilyn grew up and attended Diagonal High School, graduating with the class of 1957. Following graduation, Marilyn went to beauty school in Des Moines. On January 10, 1958, Marilyn was united in…

John Franklin May, son of Reuel Emerson and Bessie Fay (Marsh) May, was born on May 3, 1922, in Lots Creek Township, south and east of Mount Ayr. He was welcomed by an older brother, Carl, and later joined by sisters, Retha and Bonnie. He was no stranger to hard work. His first job at…

Cindy Sue Lewis Mickael was born April 10, 1961, to Harold and Mary (Peck) Lewis in Des Moines, IA. She was so small she was brought home in a shoe box to meet her brother, David, and sister, Lynette. She married Bobby White and had a son, Charles, and daughter, Jessica. Cindy loved her family,…

Robert Lee Andrews was born September 3, 1928, in Iowa, on a farm south of the Union County line in Lincoln Township, to Perle J. and Maude Ann (Groves) Andrews. Bob attended country school in Lincoln Township and when his family moved to Benton, he attended school there and graduated from Benton High in 1947…

Ryland Wayne “Moe” Garner was born on March 20, 1941, to Marion and Mildred Geneva (Mayo) Garner in Rockport, MO. Ryland married Mary Evelyn Cannon in Mount Ayr, IA on October 8, 1961, and they had five children Ronny, Barbie, Rodney Dean, Amy and Marcia. Mary passed away in 1975. Moe married Debbie Dale September…

Lyle (Gene) Eugene Johnston, 86, of Hermann MO, passed away on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, in Missouri. Gene was born on September 8, 1936, in Beaconsfield, IA, a son to Vaughn and Mildred Johnston (Maxwell). He was a 1955 graduate of Mount Ayr High School, where he was an All-State Basketball player. Gene graduated from…