Daisy Chapman Obituary

Daisy (Evans) Chapman was born February 6, 1913 in Pottawattamie County, Iowa to William Alva and Edith Myrtle (Twilliger) Evans. She passed away on May 21, 2012, at the age of 99, at the Lucas County Health Center in Chariton, Iowa.  Services were held on May 25, 2012 at Fielding Funeral Home in Chariton, Iowa with Pastor Russell Harris officiating.  Burial was at Russell Cemetery.  Memorials may be made to the Russell Historical Society or the First Baptist Church in Russell, Iowa.

When Daisy was in grade school the family moved to a farm near Confidence, Iowa, where she attended Bunker Hill rural school one mile from her home.  Since the roads were mud she went to live and work for different families in Chariton, while attending Chariton High School, graduating from Chariton in 1930.  After graduating, she taught country school for about three years in Lucas and Wayne County.

In 1936, Homer Chapman and Daisy Evans were married and at that time she had to resigh her teaching job.  You see a teacher couldn't be married when teaching children.  They lived with Homer's grandma Chapman, in the back part of the house on the Wayne and Lucas County line.  Homer and Daisy got to celebrate their 65th Wedding Anniversary together.  Homer and Daisy moved to the Doc Hill farm north of Russell where son Dean and daughter Karen were born.  Then they moved to the Ted Power's farm, south on the Salem Road.  Later, they purchased and moved to the Risbeck's farm, where the son Dean and wife Judy still reside.  After Dean and Judy married, they moved to Russell, so Dean could farm the home place.  After Homer past away, Daisy had moved to the Russell Development Apartments in Russell, Iowa.

Daisy had quite a few interests.  She took a class in hat making and for several years made hats for family and friends.  At that time every lady usually wore a hat to church.  She was very interested in 4-H and was a leader and worked hard with the 4-H Committee and the Lucas County Fair.  She also worked for Vera Edwards at the restaurant in Russell.  Daisy enjoyed being a part of the Russell Garden Club and liked to work with the flowers and she loved to exhibit them in the Lucas County Fair.  She had attended the fair until two years ago then decided that was no place for an old lady.  Christmas 2010 she had finished an afghan for her last great grandchild.  At the age of ninety-seven she decided to hang up the needles because it was just too much work.

Daisy was a member of the First Baptist Church in Russell, where she gave of her time for many years as long as her health would permit.  A her eyesight was poor in the last few years you could still find her reading her Bible almost daily.  She enjoyed reading through the Bible each year.  Each May Daisy would be outside with her flowers on the patio, watering them or just setting and enjoying them.  Daisy always had a love for cooking.  She continued to make her own meals up until her death.  In fact, she had just baked cookies two weeks ago.

Arlene Parker Obituary

Iva Arlene Parker was born December 4, 1915 and she passed away on May 21, 2012 at the Legacy Lodge in Chariton, Iowa, at the age of 96.  Services were held on May 24, 2012at the Fielding Funeral Home in Chariton, with Pastor Russell Harris and Pastor Chris Humberg officiating, with burial at Russell Cemetery.  Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church in Russell, Iowa, Russell Historical Society, or the Legacy Lodge in Chariton.

Arlene, as she was known by all, was born near Cambria, Iowa, December 4, 1915 to her parents, Leo and Georgia Lewis.  They moved to a farm near Russell when she was very young.  She attended a rural elementary school and Russell High School and later attended a Business School in Des Moines, Iowa.  She married her High School sweetheart, Robert H. Parker in 1940, their only child, Edward Dougla Parker was born in 1942 and later died in a boating accident in 1966 at the age of 24.

Arlene lived her whole life in Russell until moving with her husband to Northridge Assisted Living in Chariton, Iowa in 2009.  Arlene was a deeply devoted wife and mother, a faithful member of the First Baptist Church in Russell, Iowa.  She was very outgoing with many friends.  She loved sharing from her garden and kitchen with family, friends and neighbors.  She spent much time with her family in outdoor activities, gardening, fishing, camping and traveling.  Before marriage, she was an office worker at John Morrell and Co. in Ottumwa.  Later, after Edward was through with school, she served many  years as assistant to the Russell Postmaster.

Wauneita Ruth McConnell Obituary

Wauneita Ruth McConnell, first ordained Woman in the Iowa United Methodist Conference, departed her earthly life in the Village in Indianola, Iowa on May 16, 2012 at the age of 94 after serving as a Methodist Minister for 53 years.

She was born in Bloomfield, Iowa to Ira Newman McConnell and Ruth Elizabeth Tarrence McConnell on the 23rd of June 1917.  At the age of three her family moved to Centerville, Iowa where she grew up and graduated from Centerville High School in 1936.  She and her family were active in the United Methodist Church in Centerville.  While in her 6th grade Church School Class one Sunday her pastor challenged the students to memorize the books of the New testament.  She memorized them and was given the smallest New Testament and Psalms Booklet that was ever published.  The little booklet has traveled with her through the years.  It will go with her today.

While in 8th grade she was attending a Summer Institute on the campus of Iowa Wesleyan College, she committed herself to follow the call into the ministry.  She completed that challenge and served for many years.

As a youth, she was MYF President in the Ottumwa District MYF for seven years, members of children and youth choirs, assisting where she could.  After High School, she was a part time secretary and also worked in the Appanoose County Parish with four other ministers, all the time working toward her goal.  While at Simpson College, she served the Madora UMC as a part of the rehabilitation of the Warren County Methodist Churches under the direction of Gene Carter.

After receiving her Masters Degree, she served two churches in Missouri as a Minister of Education, all the while working her way back to her home conference.  When she returned, she was welcomed back to the Iowa Conference and assigned to the Russell United Methodist Church and the Bethel Church serving fifteen years and retiring in 1981.

An open visitation was held at Fielding Funeral Home in Chariton, Iowa on May 19, 2012.  Interment followed at the Russell Cemetery where she was laid to rest next to her sister Joan.  A Memorial service was held in the First United Methodist Church in Indianola, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, Centerville, Iowa.  Online condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.fieldingfuneralhomes.com/ .

Nellie I. Jones Obituary

Nellie Irene (Garton) Jones, daughter of Charles Lee and Adaline Lena (Thompson) Garton was born February 4, 1929 and was called home to be with the Lord on March 30, 2012 at the age of 83 years, 2 months and 26 days.  Nellie grew up on the farm and attended Cambria School, where she graduated in 1946.  After high school, Nellie worked at Surbaugh's Grocery Store in Humeston, Iowa.  She then moved to Chariton, Iowa and worked at Gartin's Grocery Store, Linquist's Restaurant and Roush's Drug Store.  Nellie was united in marriage to Billy Rex Jones on April 2, 1950 in the Baptists Church in Russell, Iowa and together they shared nearly 62 years of marriage.  To this union two children were born, Barbara Kay and Rex Eugene.  Bill and Nellie lived in Chariton, Iowa for a short time and then moved to a farm southwest of Derby, Iowa.  In 1952, they moved to Derby where they spent the remainder of their married life.

Services were held on April 4, 2012 at the Fielding Funeral Home in Chariton, Iowa.  Interment followed services at the Goshen Cemetery.  Memorials may be directed toward the family.  Condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.fieldingfuneralhomes.com/

Gordon Avitt Obituary

Family will receive friends Wednesday, May 9, 2012 from 4:30 until 6:30 p.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton. Graveside Services will follow at the Oxford Cemetery near Chariton. The American Legion will provide Burial Honors at the cemetery.

Gordon passed away May 6, 2012 at the Carlisle Care Center.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Frankie; and brothers, Ron and Charles. He is survived by his children, JoDee (Charley) Sapper of Carlisle, Melissa (Kirk) Mueldener of West Des Moines, Julia Avitt of Gallup, NM, and Matthew Avitt of St. Charles, MO; ten grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and sister, Glea Kassner of Oregon.