Mildred Mae Herron

 

   Mildred Mae, daughter of Elmer and Ellen (Bryan) Betts, was born August 14, 1922 on the Betts home place south of Coon Rapids in Guthrie County, Iowa. She attended rural school in Guthrie County and completed her education in Bayard, Iowa while living with her Grandmother Hattie Bryan. She graduated from Bayard High School in 1939.

   On October 21, 1940, Mildred was united in marriage with Duane Thomas Herron at the Methodist Church Parsonage in Guthrie Center. Four children were born to this union. She worked at Hughes Men’s Wear in Guthrie Center and the family lived on the family farm south of Bayard where she loved to grow roses of many varieties and colors. When they retired from farming, they lived in Guthrie Center for a brief time. In 1986, they moved to Bayard and purchased her Grandmother Hattie Bryan’s home. This brought Mildred back to a very familiar house, almost full circle from where her adult life began.

   Mildred was a member of the United Methodist Church in Bayard. In addition, she was an active member of card clubs, neighborhood clubs and the Rebekah Lodge. When they moved into town she, her brother and three others, the “Snowbirds”, played music for the residents of many area nursing homes for over 35 years. She had always enjoyed music, especially country western and polka. She and Duane spent many Saturday nights at Arcadia and Lake Robbins dancing the night away. From an early age, Mildred was an excellent seamstress, sewing for herself and others. She made quilts and fabric coasters and table runners among many other items.

   Her husband Duane died in 1996 and Mildred continued to live in their home in Bayard. When her health began to fail last September, she became a resident of the Thomas Rest Haven Nursing Home in Coon Rapids, Iowa. She then moved to The New Homestead in Guthrie Center. She died there on Saturday, January 9, 2016 at the age of 93 years, 4 months and 26 days.

   Preceding her in death are her parents; husband; son Thomas Dean Herron in infancy; daughter in law Judy Herron; brother Melvin Betts; sister Opal Shoaf; sister in law Dorothy Betts and brother in law Dale George; Duane’s Family: Wilbur Herron (Pauline), Donald Herron (Jennie); Naomi Kepple (Robert), Genevieve Hilgenberg (Gene), Geneva Crouch (Gene), Shirley Sievers (Lyle), Wilson Herron Jr (Lucille), Margaret Nelson (Emmert), and Pauline Roller (Clayton).

   Mildred is survived by three children Jerry Duane Herron of Guthrie Center, Judy Ellen Hoit of Iowa City and Dean Eldon Herron (Ann) of Guthrie Center; 6 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; brothers Bryan Betts of Audubon and Cleo Betts (Kae) of Elkhart, IN; sister Darlene George of Coon Rapids; sister in law Grace Betts of Omaha, NE; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Pastor Karen Patrick, Officiating    Music “Over the Sunset Mountains”          “Peace In The Valley”    
“Wings Of A Dove”  Cindy Seastrom, Vocalist  Lula Garnes, Accompanist    Casket Bearers ~ Grandsons  Darin Hoit     Daril Hoit      Joel T. Herron  Curtis Herron     Cory Herron     Chad Herron       Honorary Casket Bearers ~ Great Grandchildren  Makenzi Hoit   Alexis Hoit   Dalton Hoit   Dillon Hoit  Brandon Hoit   Thomas Duane Herron   Tabitha Herron  Bridget Bettey   Ashley Bettey   Caden Stamper  Sawyer Herron   Hopper Herron   Lucas Herron