Area Obituaries

Jennifer Lee Watkins (Donson), 45 of Kellerton, IA was born March 2, 1972, in Mechanicsburg, PA to Jack Donson and Patricia Holzworth. She passed peacefully in her sleep on November 4, 2017 in her home. Jenni was a graduate of Susquenita High School in PA. After graduation she studied horticulture and floral design. She was…

Helen Fern Umbarger HELEN FERN UMBARGER Helen Fern (Rinehart) Umbarger was born November 12, 1927 in Allendale, Missouri to Clyde Everett and Jewell (Whited) Rinehart. Helen graduated from Fairfax High School in Fairfax, Missouri.     In 1945, Helen was united in marriage to Raymond “Shorty” Umbarger. In 1953, Helen and Shorty moved to a farm…

Craig Allen Ford, youngest son born to Edward E. and Margaret E. (Sullivan) Ford, was born July 29, 1955 at the Ringgold County Hospital in Mount Ayr, IA. Craig was welcomed home by his older brothers, Charles and Mike; and would later help welcome into the family his sister, Marcia. Craig grew up with a…

Helen Umbarger, 89, of Mount Ayr, passed away Sunday, October 29, 2017 at the Clearview Home in Mount Ayr. Helen’s memorial services are pending at this time at the Armstrong Funeral Home of Mount Ayr, Iowa. Her full obituary will be in next weeks paper.

Mary Lynn (Eighme) Miller was born January 31, 1949 in Creston, Iowa to Lucius Dale Eighme and Georgia Lee (Lutz) Eighme. She graduated from Mount Ayr High School in 1967. On June 24, 1967 Mary was united in marriage to Dennis Marvin Miller. Mary was a homemaker and later worked for Ankeny Drug Town as…

Nancy Margo McCallum, daughter of Grady and Margaret (Polley) McCallum, was born June 2, 1949 in Dallas, Texas. Nancy grew up in Dallas County, Texas. In 1990, Nancy moved to Ringgold County, Iowa and had lived the last years in Kellerton, Iowa. Nancy loved her family and in return, she was loved by her many…

Alma Barna Elliott was born July 31, 1925 in Troy, New York, and the daughter of Stephen Peter and Josephine Ryan Barna. She graduated high school in New York. Alma attended college at State University of New York in Albany, New York. In 1943 she moved to Washington D.C. to help her sister with her…

Leo Napoleon McDaniel was born December 18, 1924 in Cheyenne, Oklahoma to Henry Alonzo and Florence Rebecca (Smith) McDaniel. Leo was the fifth of six children born to poor, honest, hardworking farmers in Oklahoma. At the age of 16, with only a learner’s permit, he drove another family from Oklahoma to California. Leo had two…

Leo McDaniel, 92, of Redding passed away Monday, October 2, 2017 at the Ringgold County Hospital in Mount Ayr. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 6, 2017 at the Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr. Pastor Bill Armstrong will officiate the service. Burial will be in the Redding Cemetery. Open visitation will be…

Dorothy McAtee, 79, of Kellerton, died Friday, September 29, 2017, at the Clearview Home in Mount Ayr, IA. Celebration of Life Memorial Services will be held at a later date. Burial will be at Willis Chapel cemetery in Grundy County, MO. Memorials may be made to the family. Online condolences can be given at www.powersfh.com.…

Betty Jean (Smith) Prudden, 89, of Mount Ayr passed away Wednesday, August 9, 2017 at the Clearview Home in Clearfield. Betty was the daughter of Samuel Hayden Smith and Naomi Meriam (Nickeson) Smith. She was born in Chugwater, Wyoming on October 15, 1927. Betty and family lived in Wyoming and Missouri until settling on a…

Dusty Giles was born November 17, 1988 in a hospital in Des Moines, Iowa, the son of Ted and Christine Cobb Giles. Dusty lived in Creston, Newton and other communities over the years. He married Darise Krumwiede on September 18, 2010 and on October 10, 2011, the joy of his life, Tehya Radell Giles, was…