Craver, Io Mae

Io Mae Craver, 89, formerly of Springville and Montezuma, passed away Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009, at her home at Keystone Place in Cedar Rapids. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Harden Funeral Home in New Sharon, with Dr. Charles Klink of the Montezuma United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will follow in the Friends Cemetery in New Sharon. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home on Thursday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the New Sharon United Methodist Women or the American Cancer Society. Friends may give condolences or sign the online guest book at www.hardenfuneralhomes.com Harden Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Io Mae Craver, daughter of Harry and Lela (Warbelton) Springer, was born on Dec. 15, 1919, on a farm near Taintor. She graduated from New Sharon High School in 1937. On Dec. 23, 1939, she was united in marriage to L. Rex Craver in Oskaloosa. Together they lived in Taintor, Des Moines and New Sharon before moving to Springville, where they raised their children, Marvin and Louise. Io Mae worked as a bookkeeper in Taintor, Marion and Davenport before retiring. After retirement, Rex and Io built a home near Montezuma where they enjoyed many active years together. They especially enjoyed gardening, spending time outdoors, and providing a wonderful retreat for their family. They also spent many winter months together near McAllen, Texas, where they enjoyed meeting new friends, ballroom dancing and square dancing. Io Mae moved to Cedar Rapids after Rex's death in 2005. She was an excellent cook, loved nature (especially bird-watching), always kept up with current events, and loved being a grandma and great-grandma. She was a member of the United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women and a former member of the Eastern Star.

She is survived by her son, Marvin (Pam) Craver of Cedar Rapids; her daughter, Louise (John) Orozco of Keokuk; four grandchildren, Leslie (Tony) Kach of Cedar Rapids, Jaclyn (Lance) Sullivan of Bettendorf, Benjamin (Brionna) Orozco of Thornton, Colo., and Erin (Darrin) Threlkeld of Denver, Colo.; four (soon to be five) great-grandchildren; two nieces; one nephew; her brother-in-law; her sister-in-law; several cousins; and a host of friends.

Io Mae was preceded in death by her parents; a nephew; and her husband of 66 years.