Iona Herriman

Iona Kathryn Herriman left this earthly life on December 26, 2009, in Gunter,Texas. She was born May 14, 1919 to Olin and Emma Palmer at El Reno, Oklahoma. After graduating high school she married Odis D. Herriman. They lived in Calumet, where they farmed and owned and operated a caf. In the late 1940s they bought a farm and moved to Valeda, Kansas and later to a farm west of Coffeyville. In 1960 they moved to a farm in South Coffeyville where Iona lived until moving to Hilltop Haven in Gunter, Texas in 2001. Iona mastered the skills and talents of a farm wife while mothering four children. She was a founding parent of the Westernaires Riding Club and the Jolly Workers 4-H Club where she was a leader for sewing, cooking, speaking and singing. She was also an active member of Wright-Hoffman Home Demonstration Unit in South Coffeyville. Iona was a member of the South Coffeyville Methodist Church where she was pianistmusic director for many years. She also taught piano lessons in her home. Iona believed inBeing the best you can be at whatever you do. and won many awards and ribbons for her sewing, baking, canning and floral arranging. She was a passionate vegetable gardener who also delighted in her perennial flowers. Iona lived with an artistic eye and often brought beauty to the commonplace. She was preceded in death by her husband Odis in 1987 and two sons; Galen and Larry. Survivors include daughters Judy Sumrell of Gunter, Texas, and Gwenda Elliott of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, son Scotty Herriman of South Coffeyville, grand daughter Angela Hackler of Bartlesville,grandsons; Shane Elliott of Norman, Oklahoma, Larry Herriman of Claremore, Oklahoma, Tyler Herriman of Coweta, Oklahoma, Clint Herriman of Johnson City, Texas and six great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to Visiting Nurses Association of McKinney, Texas or The Alzheimers Association. Funeral services for Iona Kathryn Herriman will be held at 10:00am on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home in Coffeyville, Kansas followed by entombment in Fairview Cemetery in Coffeyville. To leave a special message for the family on-line, visit www.PenwellGabelCoffeyville.com