Melva Eileen Stone

Melva Eileen Stone, daughter of Dolliver and Pearl (Ruhs) Dawson, was born at her parents’ home in Audubon County on May 14th, 1920. She died on December 2nd, 2021 at the age of 101 at the Audubon Friendship Home. She was baptized in the Melville Center Methodist Church and was confirmed in the Mt. Zion Evangelical United Brethren Church near Viola. She grew up on a farm and graduated from the Viola High School in 1938. She attended Iowa State Teachers College from 1938-1940 and then taught school in Plover, IA.

On December 13, 1941, she was united in marriage to Sievert Stone in the Methodist Church in Tarkio, MO. They moved to their farm in Viola Township, in March 1942. She worked alongside Sievert, milking and tending Holstein cows, raising hogs, chickens and many, much loved cats. Her massive vegetable garden was a joy to her and gift to her family as was her love of reading, and caring for her children, grandchildren, and those she nannied. Sievert passed away on January 18, 1984. Melva continued to live and work there, until she moved into Audubon in 2002.

Melva was an active member of the Mt. Zion Evangelical United Brethren Church and when it closed, the Ross United Methodist Church. She taught Sunday school for many years and held offices in the church and Missionary Circles. Her special interest was missions at home and abroad. Her adventurous side sent her on numerous trips abroad, including Israel, Sweden, Europe, and Saudi Arabia. She was a member of Widows Ministries and the Viola Farm Bureau Homemakers Club.

Survivors include her five sons: Verlon (Ruth) of Bloomington, IN, Lyle (Cathy) of Parkville, MO, Dale (Barbara) of Kirksville, MO, Gary (Julie) of Clive, IA, and Roger (Janice) of Parker, CO. She is also survived by her eleven grandchildren; Angela and her husband Keith MacDonald of Quincy, MA; Christy and her husband Ty Schliesman of Kansas City, MO; Jennifer and her husband Jake Blevins of Greenville, WI and Jeff Stone of Parkville, MO; Mark Stone of Kirksville, MO; Audrey and husband David Zajanc of Eureka, CA; Andrea Stone and husband Brice Bertels of Columbia, MO; Chelsea Stone and husband Justin Schoen of Des Moines, IA; Kelli Stone of Des Moines, IA; Adam Stone of Denver, Colorado and Sarah Stone of Santa Barbara, CA and her great-children Benjamin and Julia Schliesman, Kansas City, MO, Layla and Norah Stone of Parkville, MO. Katie and Nick Blevins, of Greenville WI, Kamren Kelso of Des Moines, IA; Opal Zajanc of Eureka, CA and Morris Schoen of Des Moines, IA. She is survived by her brother, John Dawson of Urbandale, IA, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Preceding her in death were her sisters Betty Duvall Neyenhuis, husbands Henry Neyenhuis, and Darrell Duvall; Biroda Seastrom and husband Marvin Seastrom; sister-in-law Margie Dawson, and grandson Eric Stone.

Funeral services will be conducted December 6, 2021, at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa with Pastor Steve Daiker and Reverend Dale Stone officiating. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon. Casket bearers will be Keith MacDonald, Jeff Stone, Mark Stone, Ty Schliesman, Justin Schoen, Trevor Kelso, Adam Stone and Jake Blevins. The family asks that those attending wear masks. The service will be livestreamed through the Kessler Facebook page.

We would like to honor the staff at the Audubon Friendship Home for their loving care for 11 years.

Memorials in her memory may be made to the Audubon Friendship Home and Ross United Methodist Church.