M. Grace Whirrett

BLOOMFIELD: Margaret Grace Whirrett, 90, of Pulaski, Iowa died February 2, 2012 at Davis County Hospital Long Term Care. She was born March 14, 1921 seven miles south of Bloomfield on the family farm to Albert Glen and Elizabeth Mae Brown Grim. She was the third of seven children. Grace married Glenn William Whirrett on May 17, 1941 in Memphis, Missouri. To that union was born a daughter, Jane Anne and a son, James William (Hawkeye). Glenn and Grace resided on and farmed the "Whirrett Century Farm" located SE of Pulaski in Davis County all of their married lives. She graduated from Bloomfield High School and attended Iowa Southern Normal, earning a teachers certificate. She first taught at Brown Cottage School and later at various other Davis County schools. She has been a life-long member of the United Methodist Church in Milton and Pulaski and a member of W.S.C.S., its church circles and auxiliary. She taught Sunday School, Bible School and sang in the church choir. She helped with many church studies in the Methodist Women group and held district offices in that organization. She was also active in the UNICEF program. She was a life-long member of the Waneta Neighborly Neighbors Club and was also a leader of the Jolly Jills 4-H Club. She was active in the efforts to raise funds to build the Davis County Hospital and also worked for the township election board. She served on many Pulaski Corn Show committees and conducted talent shows and pageants for it. She was in the Hometown Theater group and also performed in the Community Theater group in Bloomfield. She was a school teacher for the Country School at the Old Threshers Reunion in Mt. Pleasant for over 20 years, leading singing, spelling bees, and talent shows. She was a 50 year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, holding offices every year for that time and was Worthy Matron 3 times. She also served on the Rainbow board. She loved music, playing the piano, singing, poetry and reading. She was known throughout her life for her knowledge and memory of poetry and the words to many hymns and other types of music. She was an avid reader of books, owning an extensive collection. She always had a large garden and a yard full of flowers. She canned and shared the garden crops and raised chickens for the eggs to make her championship angel food cakes and noodles. Ducks, geese and turkeys also graced the farm and she and Glenn had both dairy and registered Black Angus cattle. Grace is survived by her daughter, Jane Anne (Richard) Moore of Keller, Texas; her son, James William (Hawkeye) Whirrett of Bloomfield; five grandchildren, Lindenette Moore and Lori Anne (Brian) Lawthers of Keller, Texas, Michelle (Lennie) Rumley, Thomas (Jeniffer) Whirrett, and Scott (Sara) Whirrett all of Leon, Iowa; 13 great-grandchildren, Sydney and Reagan Lawthers, Grace and William Moore all of Keller, Texas, Kallie, Dalton, and Makenzie Rumley, Lyle and Kelsi Whirrett, Gage, Trey and Lane Whirrett all of Leon, and Christopher Whirrett of Wichita Falls, Texas; a niece, Verna Willier Clancy of Mt. Pleasant; a sister-in-law, Jeanne Miller Grim of Ottumwa; a brother-in-law, Eugene Cone of Milton; and many other nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband Glenn on August 31, 2007; her parents; two brothers, Eugene and Donald (Tex) Grim; and four sisters, Jane White, Hope Kinsinger, Ann Cone, and Esther Muntz. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, February 6, 2012 at the Wagler Funeral Home in Bloomfield with Rev. Jim Matheney officiating. Interment will be at the Pulaski Cemetery in Pulaski, Iowa. Visitation will begin after 9:00 a.m. on Sunday with Eastern Star services at 1:30 p.m. followed by family visitation until 4:00 p.m. at the funeral home. A memorial has been established to the Pulaski Corn Show.