Caryl Dean Thompson

Caryl Dean Thompson passed away January 18, 2012, while a patient at the Boswell Hospital in Sun City, Arizona. A memorial service for his Arizona family and friends was held at the Best Funeral Home in Peoria, Arizona on Saturday, January 21. Another service will be conducted for his family and friends back home in Russell, Iowa some time this spring. He will eventually be interred at the Russell Cemetery in Washington Township. Dean was born in Cedar Township in Russell, Iowa on February 10, 1929 to Clarence and Hazel (Kimler) Thompson. The third of four children, Dean had one older sister and an older brother, Lois Easley and Carl Thompson (both deceased) and a younger brother Keith Thompson, of Tabor, Iowa.

A loving husband, a wonderful father who seldom missed any of his boy's sporting events, a caring and attentive grandfather/great-grandfather and a friend to many. Caryl Dean Thompson, you will be missed.

James Thomas Cooper Obituary

James Thomas Cooper, 57, of Lewisburg, W.Va. died on January 12, 2012 in his home after battling pancreatic cancer.  Jim was born October 17, 1954 to Jim and Jean Cooper and grew up in Russell, Iowa.

He attended high school in Russell, Iowa, and then he went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Service and Administration in Agriculture and Masters Degree of Public Administration from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.

Jim loved life.  He was a bicycle enthusiast and loved riding, racing, building, and fixing bikes, but most of all he loved helping others find the joy in cycling.  He also enjoyed many other outdoor activities like running, hiking, kayaking and cross country skiing.  He loved working behind the scenes in politics and was very passionate about what he believed in.

He put in over 35 years of service with the Federal government and was involved in many projects for the improvement and conservation of rural areas.  He spent the majority of his career in Iowa and was very proud of his contributions to specific projects such as Chariton Valley Biomass Project and Honey Creek Resort State Park.

His parents, Jim and Jean Cooper, once of Russell, now live in Chariton, Iowa.

Memorial services and bike ride will be held in Iowa this coming spring.  Details to be published at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to one of the following organizations.  Lustgarten Foundation (http://www.curepc.org/), or Pancreatic Cancer Awarenenss Network (http://www.pancan.org/).

On line condolences and other information can be found by visiting http://www.blueridgefuneralhome.com/

Gladys Ruby (Evans) Sibert

Gladys Ruby (Evans) Sibert, 97, was born November 9, 1914 in Pottawattamie County, Iowa to William Alva Evans and Edith Myrtle (Twilliger) Evans.  At the age of five years old they moved to Confidence, Iowa.  She had four sisters and one brother. 

Gladys attended Bunker Hill Country School and attended Chariton High School and graduated in 1933.  After graduation she went to Des Moines to work and then got her teaching certificate on April 14, 1939.  She taught school in Wayne and Lucas Counties.

Gladys was united in marriage to Earl Dale Sibert July 22, 1940 by Elder Henry Castings, Pastor of the RLDS Church in Des Moines, Iowa.  To this union were born 5 children, daughter Verdella Pearl; son, Earl Dale Jr.; two daughters, Gelene Kay and Marcia Jeannette and son Gary Lynn.

Earl and Gladys rented and farmed on three different farms before buying their own 250 acre farm south of Russell on December 8, 1954.  They sold their farm in 1963 because of Rathbun Lake being built and it was going to back up on their farm land.  Leaving the farm they bought Scritchfields home across from the Chariton High School and lived there until the school decided they needed parking for the school and they sold it to the school.

Gladys was baptized in the RDLA Church, June 19, 1937.  She was very active in her churches.  She played the piano for Center Community Church for years.  She also taught Bible School there and was also involved with the young people at the RLDS Church in Chariton after moving.

Gladys started a 4-H club in Washington Township and was the leader of that club.  Gladys was in charge of the Food Stand at the 4-H grounds for many years.  She was also involved with Freedom Bible Camps and helped while all her children attended it for a week each summer.

Gladys' sister, Daisy Chapman, is still alive and living in Russell.

Services for Gladys were held at 10:30am in Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at the Fielding Funeral Home. 

Interment was in the Russell Cemetery.  Memorials may be made to the family or to the Care Initiatives Hospice in Albia, Iowa.

Mary Ellen Reeves Obituary

Mary Reeves, 66, of Russell, died, Friday December 30, 2011 at the Greater Regional Hospice Home in Creston. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday January 7, 2012 at the Chariton Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Rev. C.J. Latham will officiate the service. There will be no public visitation. Memorials may be made to the Chariton Christian Church furnace and air conditioning fund. Online condolences may be left under the obituary category of www.powersfh.com.
Mary Louise Reeves, daughter of Mary Ellen (Ansley) Reeves and William Clinton Reeves was born April 4, 1945 in Chariton, Iowa. She graduated from Chariton High School in 1963. She moved to Des Moines and began to work for the Internal Revenue Service. Later in 1965, she began her career with the Social Security Administration holding many different positions with her favorite being a Data Review Technician, serving 42 years before retiring in 2007. After retiring, she moved to Russell, Iowa to be near family. Mary was a member of the Chariton Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) where she held the position of Deaconess; she was an active Russell museum volunteer, active in the local genealogical society, local cemetery board and active in her favorite scrapbooking groups.
Mary is survived by her sister, Catherine Whited of Creston; an uncle, Oliver (wife Deloris) Ansley of Murray; an aunt, Esther Whitehair of Crownsville, Md.; a nephew, Brian Whited of Afton; many cousins and other family. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, William C. and Mary E. Reeves.