Margaret Ellen Alley, 89, of Osceola died Jan. 17, 2016, at Clarke County Hospital.
Funeral services were 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, at Kale Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., in Osceola, followed by lunch at First Christian Church and interment in Murray Cemetery. Open visitation was 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to Clarke County Historical Society, Osceola Library and Hospice of Central Iowa. Online condolences may be left at www.kalefuneralhome.com
Margaret, daughter of DeFloyd and Effie Mae (Jones) Alley, was born Dec. 27, 1926, in Murray. Margaret attended rural Clarke County Schools, including Oak Grove, where she later taught for five years. Margaret graduated from Osceola High School and soon after began her teaching career. She later received her master’s degree in teaching from Drake University.
Margaret taught for 43 years in Clarke County country schools and Clarke Community School District. She retired in 1989.
Margaret was a member of First Christian Church in Osceola, where she served as Elder and was a member of the quilters group; Clarke County Hospital Auxiliary, where she volunteered in the gift and snack shop at the hospital; Clarke County Genealogical and Historical Society, where she maintained country school and genealogical records; Sarah Rebekah Lodge No. 57; and Past Noble Grand Club.
Margaret is survived by her sister Shirley Mae (Lewis) Harrell of Eldora; nieces, Irma Lee Watkins of Osceola, Barbara Mae (Jerry) Chadwick of Osceola and Kathy (Brent) Hammond of Longmont, Colorado; nephews, Larry (Becky) Weaklend of Clear Lake, Gary (Vickie) Weaklend of Boone, David (Peggy) Harrell of New Providence and Dennis (Doris) Weaklend of West Des Moines; many other relatives; and friends.
Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, DeFloyd and Effie Alley; sisters Eunice Darlene in infancy, Meryle (Chester “Bud”) Saddoris and Gladys (husbands, Abe Sharp and Arthur “Art” Weaklend); niece Mary Lou (Saddoris) (husband Otto Gull) and nephews-in-law Bill Watkins and “Butch” Atkinson.