Area Obituaries

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…

Donna Richards was born May 26, 1934, in Allendale, MO to Clifford and Mildred (Austin) Rinehart. She passed away peacefully surrounded by her children and grandchildren on December 6, 2022. At the age of 88. Donna graduated from Grant City High School in 1951 and later that year was united in marriage to Charles Richards.…

Randy Dale Johnson, son of Bill and Lois (Holtzman) Johnson, was born at home, Mount Ayr, Iowa, on June 18, 1955. Randy attended school at Mount Ayr. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on September 27, 1975. After his honorable discharge on September 26, 1979, Randy returned to live in Ringgold County for the remainder…

Raymond Earl Martin, age 91, of Lamoni, IA, the son of Emery E. and Nora Zelda (Fish) Martin, was born December 16, 1930, in Ringgold County, IA. He left this life on Monday, November 14, 2022, at the Clearview Home in Mount Ayr, IA. Ray grew up around Lamoni, IA. After his schooling he farmed…

Mary Ellen (James) Kimble was born to Victor “Jim” and Anna “Evelyn” (Jackson) James on August 9, 1940, and passed away on November 26, 2022, at the age of 82 years and three months. Mary Ellen was a life-long learner who spent over 19 years in formal education; starting school at Woodland Country School near…

It’s with great sadness we announce that Judy C. Jackson, 70, of Mount Ayr, IA, passed away on Tuesday, November 29, 2022. Judy was born on December 23, 1951, to Leola L. and H.T. Ferguson in Rustin, LA. After attending Glen High in Louisiana, she went on to live life to the fullest. A true…

John Bruce Adams was born on Valentines Day, February 14, 1959 to parents, Robert Eugene and Betty Lee (Giger) Adams, in Rockford, IL. He was welcomed home by sisters, Kathy Lee and Barbara Ann, and a brother, Robert Eugene. A few years later the family welcomed another sister, Hope. The family lived in Rockford for…