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Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Kelso, Erva P.
WALKER - Erva P. Kelso, 91, of Walker, died Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2010, at Willow Gardens Care Center in Marion. Services: 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Walker, by the Rev. James Wolfe. Family will greet friends after 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Burial: Walker Cemetery, Walker.
Survivors include her daughter, Carole (Robert) Beresford of Troy Mills; 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; two sons-in-law, Gene Tempus of Pella and Mark Meader of Waubeek; a sister-in-law, Helen Kelso of Cedar Rapids; and close cousins, Forrest and Raymond Shackelford.
She was preceded in death by her husband; two daughters, Sharon Tempus and Janet Meader; brothers, Everett and Wayne Cahill; and a sister, Norma Cook.
Erva was born Jan. 31, 1919, the daughter of Ezra and Nellie Mae (Ossman) Cahill, in Walker, Iowa. She attended Betty's Grove School and High School at Walker, where she played basketball. On May 28, 1939, Erva was united in marriage to Harold Kelso at Spencer's Grove Church. Erva worked at Walker Consolidated School in the lunch department, next she worked for ‘Rainy' Differding at his cafe, but when asked to work at the Walker State Bank she found her home away from home, and friends who became like family. She remained there nearly 40 years and enjoyed almost every minute.
Please sign the online guest book for Erva at under obituaries.
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