Betty Ash

BETTY J. ASH

Betty Jo Ash, age 79, of Burlington, IA, formerly of Keokuk, passed away on Wednesday, August 6, 2014, at the Great River Hospice House in West Burlington.

Betty was born March 20, 1935, a daughter of Wilber "Pete" and Zaida Carter Toops.

She married Alva Junior Ash and they were the parents of five children.

Survivors include three sons, Stephen Ash (Billie Lay) of Kahoka, Mark Ash of Wayland and Scott (Donna) Ash also of Wayland; two daughters, Sheree Ash (Todd McCann) of St. Francisville and Dawna (Bill) Reece of Burlington; three sisters: Rosemarie (Ralph) Buschling and Rebecca Buschling, all of Wayland and Ida (Ed) Nelson of Keokuk; eleven grandchildren: Charles and Roman Lay, Samantha (Brian) Soraghan, Lisa Lay (Joshua Burgess), Marrissa Ash (Stan Davis), April Miller, Cole and Amanda Ash, Markie Ash (Ritchie Rhodes), Tonya Ash and Jaymie (Jake) Jackson; thirteen great grandchildren: Devlin, Dylin and Braiden Soraghan, Jerret Burgess, Stephen Lay, Arienna Ash, Aubrey and Jealousy Claiborne, Jazlen Morse, Corvin Lentz, Daisie Rhodes, Tinslee Mitchell and Derek Jackson; as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Marybelle Rockhold and Sandra Toops; and brothers-in-law Dick Rockhold and George Buschling.

Betty was a graduate of Kahoka High School and received her associate's degree in art from SECC. She was a wonderful artist who expressed her abilities in many ways. She was an accomplished seamstress who made clothes for her family and others. She enjoyed scrapbooking and giving them to her family. She wrote beautiful poems with several published and numerous articles for local newspapers. She was well known for her hats and lovely scarves.

Most of her adult life was spent as a housewife, but she had worked for Swifts, St. Louis Die Cast, and Clark Co. Nursing Home as a CNA. She was a member of the former Carnation Club of Wayland and a member of the Standing Bear Council. First and foremost, was her love for God and for her family.

Memorial services were held Saturday, August 9, 2014 at 3 p.m. at Wilson Funeral Home in Kahoka with Pastor Paul Milliken officiating. Inurnment followed at a later date in the Sand Cemetery at St. Francisville.

Memorials are suggested to the family.

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