B. Flay Walters

Belva Flay Walters, the daughter of William Harry and Edith Estelle Ary Searls, was born March 15, 1915 at her parents’ home in Hamlin Township, Audubon County, Iowa and died November 23, 2011 at the Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 96 years, 8 months, and 8 days. Flay was baptized and confirmed at the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon. She attended rural school, Hamlin #3 in Audubon County and then attended Audubon Community Schools graduating with the High School Class of 1932. She then was employed as a hired girl. On December 26, 1934 she was united in marriage to Henry Walters in Atlantic, Iowa. Two children Peggy and Kent were born to this union. They operated various farms in Audubon County for many years until they moved into Audubon in 1955. Flay was employed as a clerk at the Federated store and the Gamble’s store in Audubon. She also helped Henry remodeling houses. Later they managed the Holiday Motel for several years until she retired. Flay and Henry enjoyed going to coffee with friends and spending their winters in Arizona. Henry died in 1985. Flay lived in their home for many years before moving to the Friendship Home in Audubon in June of 2009. Flay had the honor of being the longest continuous member of the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon and was a member of the church circle. She enjoyed gardening, cooking and baking, canning and sewing. She was also well known for her bread and butter pickles and her pressed chicken. Flay was preceded in death by her husband Henry; her parents; her sister and brother: Louise and husband Ted Molgaard; Fred and wife Thelma Searls; her brothers-in-law and sister-in-law: Harry and wife Selma Walters; Folmer and wife Frances Walters; Verner Walters; Anna and husband Viggo Jacobsen; Meta and husband Lewis Brown; Gladys and husband Advald Jorgensen. Survivors include her children Peggy and husband Alvin Grabill; Kent and wife Marlene Walters all of Audubon, Iowa; her brother Kenneth Searls of Audubon; her sister-in-law Nina Walters of Anita, Iowa; her step grandchildren Greg Grabill of Apache Junction, Arizona; Dianna Grabill of Phoenix, Arizona; Lori and husband Dave Lebeck of Audubon; Mark and wife Kim Grabill of Monroe, Iowa; Tony and wife Kim Murray of East Earl, Pennsylvania; Rick and wife Lynne Murray of Omaha, Nebraska; Chris Andersen and partner Paul Daniel of Lidderdale, Iowa; Shawn and husband Dave Kitt of Audubon; 14 step grandchildren; 11 step great-great grandchildren; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Arlington Heights Cemetery in Audubon, Iowa.

Visitation:
The family will meet with friends Sunday evening at 5:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Jack DePond on Monday, November 28, 2011, at 2:00 P.M. at the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon, Iowa.