Iona E Yost

lona Elizabeth Yost age 92 passed away on September 20, 2012 at the Hillcrest Care Center.  She was born on May 8, 1920 north of Benkelman on the family farm to Raymond and Lula Martin.

She married Lloyd Yost in Benkelman, Nebraska on August 8, 1940. He preceded her in death on September 28, 1991. lona and Lloyd celebrated their 5oth anniversary in August of 1991 with family and friends . What a joyous celebration!

lona and Lloyd began their married life on the Yost homestead north of Wray. There they raised their four children,John, Dean, Caroline, and Lloyd Jr. The Yost children attended the one room schoolhouse, Mt. Hope. lona was a 4-H leader for the Wauneta Club.

In the fall of 1956, Lloyd and lona moved the family to Wray in order for them to attend school. lona worked various jobs to help support their family . Housekeeping for the Warren Stephenson family, childcare for Cleora (Witte) Fix, housekeeping and childcare for the Larry Mich’s family, cooking at Cedar dale, and being the dietician/cook at Wray Community Hospital filled her days before retirement .

lona was an active member of the Rebekah Lodge, Wray United Methodist Church, Sand hiller card club, and the Pinochle club. After retirement, she had the time for crafts, crocheting and vis iting with her friends . She was always available to help her children when needed as well as helping any other members of her family including her brothers and sister when in ill health. In addition,each of her children has a beautiful quilt made by their mother.  Many people also sought out lona to quilt for them.

In addition to her husband, lana was preceded in death by brothers Dudley, Nathan, Melvin, Harry, and Noel Martin, daughter-in-law Doretta, and granddaughter Dorene Ray. She is survived by her four children, John of Wray, Dean (Kay) of Colorado Springs, Caroline (Ross) of Broken Arrow, OK and Lloyd Jr . (Ruth) of Farmers Branch,TX, fourteen grandchildren and many great­ grandchildren, her sister, Helen Adams of Curtis, NE, sister-in-law Merrella Martin of Benkelman, NE, sisters=in-laws Dorothy Yost and Bonnie Yost and numerous nieces and nephews.

She will be remembered most for her deep love of family and friends, for her generous spirit, her comforting presence and her incredible zest for life.

Funeral services were held on Monday-September 24, 2012 at 1:00pm at the Wray United Methodist Church. Interment was in the Grandview Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to Wray United Methodist Church or Hospice of the Plains. Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.