Gracie Cossel

BLOOMFIELD: Gracie Myrtle Cossel, age 95, passed away on September 20, 2009 at the Davis County Hospital in Bloomfield, Iowa. Gracie was born December 27, 1913 in rural Willmathsville, Adair County, Missouri, the fifth of eight children, to William Arthur and Louisa Catherine Miller Piper. Gracie lived in the Coffey Christian Church community, south of Downing, MO, until her family moved to the Barker United Methodist church community in Scotland County, MO. She graduated first in her class at North Barker school. During her teen years, Gracie worked as a housekeeper, a substitute teacher at North Barker school, and a seamstress for her family. On September 25, 1935 Gracie married the love of her life and best friend Floyd Edwin Cossel in Memphis, MO, with the Rev. Bertha M. Porter conducting the ceremony. To this union were born two children, Lois Gracie, and Loren Edwin. Over the years, Gracie and Edwin farmed in Scotland County, MO; lived in Los Angeles, CA during World War II, and returned to their home community in 1946, to raise their children in the Barker Church community. In 1953 they moved to Davis County, IA where they continued to farm until their retirement, and enjoyed moving into their new home near West Grove. With her highly developed sewing skills Gracie made her own wedding dress, her daughter’s and her elder granddaughter’s wedding dresses as well as making quilts, clothes, and toys for all of her grandchildren. During her latter years while living in the Bloomfield Care Center, she continued to enjoy visits with her loving family members living near and far. With deep affection, her grandchildren called her “The Captain” of her family for all the love and guidance she gave them. Gracie taught her grandsons fishing skills and her granddaughters sewing skills. Gracie will be greatly missed by her daughter Lois G. (John) McMillin, her daughter-in law JoElla Cossel, seven grandchildren, and their spouses: John V. III (Ericca) McMillin, Flower Mound, TX, James E. (Lisa) McMillin, Williamsburg, IA, Joel D. (Yiqun) McMillin, Flagstaff, AZ, Lois (Doug) Heckethorn, Floris, IA, Vaughn (Deb) Cossel, Augusta, KS, Gary (Sheila) Cossel, Bloomfield, IA, and Lori (Ed) Altheide, Bloomfield; sixteen great-grandchildren, one adopted great-granddaughter, and three great-great-grandchildren. She also leaves her beloved brother Eugene Piper, Arbela, MO, brother-in-law Roy Woods, and sister-in-law Lucille Cossel. Gracie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her son Loren, three sisters Hazel Aldridge, Daisy Woods, and Emogene Wellbaum, and three brothers Chester, Victor, and Leroy Piper. A private graveside service for family members will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at the Barker United Methodist Church Cemetery, Scotland County, MO, with Kramer Smith of the Stiles Christian Church officiating. Gracie will lie at rest beside her beloved husband Edwin. Visitation will begin after 9 am on Tuesday with the family present to greet friends from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at the Wagler Funeral Home in Bloomfield. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Davis County Dollars for Scholars Fund, the Leukemia Cancer Society, or the donor’s favorite charity.