Person Page - 2037

     May Ethel Cassens was buried at Conner Cemetery, Sigourney, Keokuk Co., Iowa.¹ She SIGOURNEY - May Ethel Smithart, age 90, of Sigourney, died Friday, December 21, 2007, at the Manor House Care Center in Sigourney, following a long illness. May was born April 6, 1917, in West Lancaster Township, Keokuk County, Iowa, to Carl and Adelheid (Duensing) Cassens and received her education at Stoney Point country school. On September 8, 1940 she married Leo Smithart in Albia, Iowa. A lifelong resident of the Sigourney community, May worked for several years as a CNA at the Keokuk County Home and Manor House Care Center. She was a member of the United Presbyterian Church in Sigourney, V.F.W. Auxiliary and the Stoney Point Hustlers Club and enjoyed playing cards. Survivors include two children: Wayne Smithart and wife Sandra of Sigourney and Eugene Smithart and wife Lana of Onalaska, Wisconsin; four grandchildren: Brian, Jerry and Benjamin Smithart and Jenna (Smithart) Schneider and five great grandchildren: Rachel, Katie, Sarah, Paige and Zachary Smithart. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband: Leo in 1967 and sister: Katharine Northup of Sigourney. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, December 24, 2007, at the United Presbyterian Church in Sigourney with Rev. Jim Stout officiating. Burial will be at Conner Cemetery in rural Sigourney. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 23, 2007, at the Reynolds-Powell Funeral Chapel in Sigourney. A memorial fund has been established for the Sigourney Volunteer Fire Department. Reynolds-Powell Funeral Chapel and Cremation Service in Sigourney is handling the arrangements.¹ Her Social Security Number was 483-60-7513.³ She was born on April 6, 1917 at West Lancaster, Keokuk Co., Iowa.^1,3 As of September 8, 1940,her married name was Smithart.² She married Leo Wilson Smithart, son of John Wilson "Willis" Smithart and Bessie Elizabeth Conner, on September 8, 1940 at Ottumwa, Wapello Co., Iowa.² May Ethel Cassens died on December 21, 2007 at Sigourney, Keokuk Co., Iowa, at age 90.^1,3

     Wayne Carl Smithart Wayne Carl Smithart, 78, of Sigourney died at home, Saturday, June 20, 2020. He was born March 17, 1942, in South Plank Township, the son of Leo and May (Cassens) Smithart. Growing up on a small farm in rural Iowa, Wayne graduated from Sigourney High School in 1962 and then was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1964 and served his country for two years while stationed at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, and Fort Benning in Georgia. He married Sandra (Swank) Smithart on May 20, 1966, at Sigourney United Methodist Church. Wayne spent 25 years working in the construction business before becoming a Field Assessor for Keokuk County in 1996, a position he held for 21 years up until his retirement in 2017. At home on their farm in Sigourney, he kept himself busy with small projects around the house, and cherished spending time with his five grandchildren. Wayne was also a passionate supporter of fire departments and emergency services. He and Sandy spent 25 years working with the Keokuk County Disaster Assistance Team, providing food and drinks to first responders at fires and other emergencies across the county. Wayne was beloved by his friends, family, and co-workers for his kind heart and warm demeanor, and had a unique ability to form a lasting relationship with anyone who crossed his path. Wayne is survived by his wife, Sandra Smithart of Sigourney; two sons Brian (Brenda) Smithart of Altoona, and Jerry Smithart of Sigourney; five grandchildren, Rachel (Blake) Ruane of Chicago , Ill., Katie Smithart of Ankeny, Sarah Smithart of Altoona, Paige Smithart of Sigourney and Zach Smithart of Sigourney; brother Eugene (Lana) Smithart of La Crosse, Wis. He was preceded in death by his parents.³ He was born on March 17, 1942 at Sigourney, Keokuk Co., Iowa.^2,3 He married Sandra Swank on May 20, 1966 at Sigourney, Keokuk Co., Iowa.³ Wayne Carl Smithart died on June 20, 2020 at Sigourney, Keokuk Co., Iowa, at age 78.³

     William James was born circa 1825 at England.² He married Nancy Conner, daughter of Charles Conner and Mary Ann Cross, on May 14, 1858 at Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon.¹ William James died on October 2, 1891 at Tacoma, Pierce Co., Washington.³

     Harrison Kirk "Harry" Ainsworth was buried at Murdoch-Linwood Cemetery, 520 Wilson Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., Iowa.⁵ He was born on September 15, 1888 at Anamosa, Jones Co., Iowa.^6,3 He married Sarah S. Knox, daughter of William Knox and Margaret Frances Fear, on August 14, 1911 at Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., Iowa.^6,1,3,4 Harrison Kirk "Harry" Ainsworth died on December 15, 1930 at Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., Iowa, at age 42.^6,2 He The funeral of Harry Ainsworth, who died very suddenly with heart trouble Monday while at his desk in the traffic department at Sinclair's, was held held Wednesday at the Calvary Baptist church. He was widely known throughout the city because of his ability as an amateur magician, having performed for numerous organizations on various programs. Mr. Ainsworth was 42 years old and formerly worked in the Rock Island freight office. He is survived by his wife and two children, Warren and Helen. on December 19, 1930.²

     Dixie Madeline Halstad was born circa 1915 at Winter Haven, Polk Co., Florida.¹ She married Gwendell D. Knox, son of Thomas Abel Knox and Mary Harriett Height, on June 14, 1932 at Des Moines, Polk Co., Iowa.¹ As of circa 1934,her married name was Knox.²

     Her Social Security Number was 217-07-6643.⁴ Elsie Grace Wood was buried at Roselawn Cemetery, Benson, Johnston Co., North Carolina.³ She was born on August 5, 1913 at Harnett Co., North Carolina.^5,4,3 As of April 8, 1942,her married name was Knox.² She married Gwendell D. Knox, son of Thomas Abel Knox and Mary Harriett Height, on April 8, 1942 at Aversaboro, Harnett Co., North Carolina.^2,3 Elsie Grace Wood died on December 3, 1998 at Raleigh, Wake Co., North Carolina, at age 85.^5,4,3 She Mrs. Elsie Wood Knox, 85, of 300 East Morgan St. died Thursday at Rex Hospital in Raleigh. Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Sunday at the Rose & Graham Funeral Home Chapel in Benson. The Revs. Kendall Cameron, Don Price, and Curtiss Tatum will officiate. Burial will follow in Roselawn Cemetery, Benson with Eastern Star Rites. Mrs. Knox was born August 5, 1913 in Harnett County to the late Parley and Lillie O'Neal Wood. She was married to the late "G.D.' Knox. Mrs. Knox was a retired Dietician in the NC Public School System. She was also a member of the Benson Baptist Church. Surviving include sons and daughters-in-law, Thomas Wood and Karen Knox, and George Stephen and Louise Knox all of Benson; sister, Annie Ruth W. Turlington of Benson; brother, P.B. Wood Jr. of Benson; grandchildren, Harriett Knox Missroon, Lara Kathryn Knox, John Thomas Knox, Jordan Elizabeth Knox, Andrea Louise Knox, and Robert Wade Knox. on December 5, 1998.³

     Her married name was Hutton.¹ Edna N. Unknown married Lloyd Russell Hutton, son of Cecil Day Hutton and Edith J. Robbins.¹ Edna N. Unknown was born on February 17, 1923.¹

     His Social Security Number was 478-14-2165.⁵ Paul Theodore Archer was buried at Springfield Cemetery, What Cheer, Keokuk Co., Iowa.² He was born on September 19, 1907 at Keokuk Co., Iowa.^5,2,3,4 He married Dorothy Mae Fear, daughter of Melvin F. Fear and Mary Hackert, on June 6, 1941 at Palmyra, Marion Co., Missouri.¹ Paul Theodore Archer died on May 16, 1974 at Oskaloosa, Mahaska Co., Iowa, at age 66.^1,2,4 He Funeral services for Paul Theodore Archer, 66, a former resident of Rock Island, were conducted this afternoon at What Cheer, Iowa. Burial followed there. Mr. Archer died Thursday morning at Mahaska County Hospital in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He was born Sept. 19, 1907. Mr. Archer worked for J. I. Case Co. in Rock Island for 23 years before retiring about four years ago and moving to Iowa. Surviving are the widow, Mrs. Dorothy Archer; two daughters, Mrs. Donald Hill, Silvis, and Mrs. Jean DeKeyrel, Alexis: a stepson, Larry Jones, Milan; two sisters Mrs. Hazel Todd of Washington, Iowa, and Mrs. Leana Dugger, also of Iowa; a brother, Henry Archer of Sigourney, Iowa; and six grandchildren. on May 18, 1974.⁴

     Duane Edward Wilson was buried at Rock Island National Cemetery, Rock Island, Rock Island Co., Illinois.² He was born on April 18, 1916 at Deep River, Poweshiek Co., Iowa.^1,2 He married Alice Margaret Fear, daughter of Melvin F. Fear and Mary Hackert, on April 20, 1940 at Bloomfield Township, Davis Co., Iowa.¹ Duane Edward Wilson died on June 20, 1977 at age 61.²