Beyer, Ila Mae (McKinley)

Memorial services for Ila Mae (McKinley) Beyer, 91, of Tipton, who died on Christmas Day 2013, will be 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 10, 2014, at First United Methodist Church, Tipton, with visitation beginning at 10:30 a.m. Pastor Paul Frederiksen will officiate. Burial will follow at Brandon Cemetery, Brandon.

Online condolences and photos may be shared at www.fryfuneralhome.com.

A memorial has been established in her memory at First United Methodist Church, Tipton.

Ila was born on the Fourth of July 1922 in Jefferson Township, Buchanan County, Iowa, the daughter of Edward and Sarah (Peck) McKinley. She was a 1939 graduate of Vinton High School. She later earned her teaching certificate in 1940. On April 9, 1944, Ila was united in marriage to Clarence LaVern Beyer in Brandon, Iowa. Clarence proposed to Ila exactly 70 years ago on Christmas Day, fortuitously the same day she reunited with him at the Gates of Heaven.

Ila was a country schoolteacher for five years in Buchanan County, homemaker, and drugstore clerk at Gibbons and Reeve Drug in Tipton for 17 years.

She was a member of United Methodist Women, Tipton Women's Club, TOPS Iowa No. 682, Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) and Rebekah Lodge. Following their retirement, Ila and Clarence spent winters in Texas Valley for 24 years. Clarence passed away April 2, 2012.

Ila is survived by her daughters, Linda (Delbert) Berghoefer of Hampton, Iowa, and Patricia (Gary) Janssen of Island Lake, Ill.; sons, Al (Nancy) Beyer of Gillette, Wyo., and Mark (Debbie) Beyer of Ava, Mo.; 13 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and her sister-in-law, Dorothy Sloan.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; stepgranddaughter, Amy Bidwell; brothers, Donald (Marie) McKinley, Tracy McKinley and Robert (Yvonne) McKinley; and sister, Marjorie (Milo) Stainbrook.

Published Dec. 28, 2013 in The Gazette