Weber, Cecilia ('Tela') McFarland

Cecilia (“Tela”) McFarland Weber, 85, died peacefully Monday, Jan. 3, 2011, in West Branch, Iowa. She was born in Webster City, Iowa, and graduated from high school at Fort Dodge, Iowa, in 1943. After high school, she went to work for the telephone company in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She returned to Fort Dodge, where she worked for the Boston Store. She met Chester Russell Weber, whom she married on Sept. 1, 1946, at the Fort Dodge First Christian Church. Following her marriage, she moved to Center Point, and later to Pleasantville and Des Moines. She was a member of Eastern Star and Toastmistress. She and Chester (“Chuck”) Weber moved many times while Chaplain Weber served in the U.S. Navy. They remained married until his death in 2003. For many years, Mrs. Weber volunteered her services to the Navy Relief Fund and the American Red Cross chapters in Cedar Rapids and Pensacola, Fla.

Tela Weber worked in varied positions as an administrative assistant. Following retirement from the Navy, the Webers returned to Mount Vernon, Iowa, where she completed her bachelor's degree at Cornell College (1978). They later moved to Pensacola, Fla., and then to Dallas, Texas.

Mrs. Weber is survived by her daughters, Tela Lynne Gatewood of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Kris Weber of Dallas, Texas; and her daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Chris Kofoed of West Branch.

She also is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Joel and Kelli Weber of Woodward, and John and Renita Weber of Little Falls, N.J.

Mrs. Weber had five grandchildren, Jason Kofoed of Cedar Falls, Sarah Weber of New York City, Adam Kofoed, serving in the U.S. Army in South Korea, Carrie Weber of Woodward, and Dylan Kofoed of West Branch. She is also survived by her sisters, Verna McFarland Anderson of Fort Dodge, and Patricia McFarland Schimins of Overland Park, Kan.; and her brother, Lorell McFarland of Houston, Texas.

She also is survived by her brother-in-law, Loren Swedburg; her sister-in-law, Betty McFarland; many nieces and nephews; and many friends.

Mrs. Weber was preceded in death by her husband, Chester Weber; her parents, Carl and Agnes McFarland, along with her brothers, Cecil, Orville and Axel McFarland; and her sisters, Viola McFarland Johnston, Leona McFarland Worrell, Hazel McFarland Cunningham, Melva McFarland Swedburg and Verla June McFarland.

Services are at noon Wednesday, Jan. 5, at Morgan Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, where the family will greet friends beginning at 11 a.m.

The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, contributions by made in her name to the Center Point Christian Church, the American Red Cross, Cornell College or the Alzheimer's Association.

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