CHARITON —
Fern Adaline (Sellers) Cottrell, 83, of Chariton, passed away peacefully on Friday, Aug. 31, 2012 in Chariton.
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012 at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton, with Emery McDonald officiating. Burial followed at the Russell Cemetery.
Fern was born in Lucas County to Dewey and Nora (Hixson) Sellers on Sept. 13, 1928. She married Dale Cottrell on Feb. 14, 1947 in Russell. She attended country schools and Chariton High School. While growing up, she attended Mt. Carmel Church and accepted Christ as her Savior.
She was a full time wife and mother to three girls. After her daughters were in school, she sold Avon Products, and worked at Fullers General Store in Confidence. Raising chickens to eat and to lay eggs was a farm chore she enjoyed. A large garden was grown each year to can and freeze for her family to enjoy during the winters. She enjoyed sharing the bounty with family and neighbors. She always had many flowers, both inside and outside.
As a farm wife, she was very active in the raising and caring for the livestock, driving the tractor and participating in all phases of the farm operation. On “Cattle Working Days” she was at one end of the cattle chute, then at noon, she had a big pot of chili soup and homemade pies ready for lunch. Gary Runyon, the veterinarian, always looked forward to her delicious pies.
Family, especially her grandchildren, was very important to Fern, as she always put them first in her life. Holidays at her house were always very special. She loved to cook and bake, which she always shared with family and neighbors. Her bread, cinnamon rolls, donuts, homemade pies, and handmade noodles could not be beaten by anyone. Helping others was a big part of her life.
Fern is survived by husband, Dale Cottrell; and daughters, Linda (Larry) Chase of Chariton, Joyce (Michael) Thomas of Centerville and Janet (Dewey) Abrahamson of Rathbun; grandchildren, Michelle (Dave) Hyman of Keota, Brenda (Brian) Kotewa of Moscow, Idaho, Anne Thomas of Seymour, Lisa (Mike) Taylor of Ludlow, Ky., Brian (Dottie) Abrahamson of Ankeny, Megan (Felix) Munoz of Hiawatha, Iowa and Sara (Josey) Hanes of Ankeny; great-grandchildren, Cortney, Matthew and Branden Hyman; Julia and Gabriel Kotewa; Yesmina, Leah and Braxtyn Thomas; Giana Taylor; and Laura, Justin and Christopher Abrahamson. Also surviving are sisters, Wilma (Frank) Johnson of Creston and Marilyn (Jack) James and Wretha (Don) Paige of Chariton; and sisters-in-law, Ethel Printy, Doris (Ronald) Christensen of Chariton and Dorothy (Harold) Sellers of Osceola. Also many nieces and nephews survive her.
The great staff at dialysis unit in Corydon, who made her last several years better, have become like family to be remembered.
Fern was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Harold Sellers; and brothers-in-law, Frank Johnson, Don Paige and Junior Prough.
Memorials may be given to Legacy Lodge Hospice House, Parents of Galactosemic Children, Susie Tuttle Dialysis Unit of Corydon, Iowa and University of Iowa Assistive Technology Program.
Obituaries
September 6, 2012
Fern Adaline (Sellers) Cottrell
- Obituaries
-
- Dale Bennett Dale Bennett, 58, of Centerville, Iowa passed away Sunday, May 12, 2013 at his residence. At his family's request, Dale has been cremated. A memorial service will be held at a later date. A memorial has been established to the Dale Bennett Memorial F
- Brian 'B.J.' Davis Brian "B.J." Davis, 51, of Centerville passed away Monday, May 13, 2013 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. Funeral services will held at 11 a.m., Friday, May 17 at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Centerville with the Rev. Jeremy McElvain off
-
John Robert 'Bob' Walker, Jr.
John Robert "Bob" Walker, Jr., 83, of Mystic, passed away Saturday, May 11, 2013 at Mercy Medical Center in Centerville. Bob was born May 10, 1930 in Mystic, the son of John Robert and Jacquetta (Young) Walker, Sr. He graduated from high school in No
- Dale Bennett Dale Bennett, 58, of Centerville, passed away Sunday, May 12, 2013 at his residence. Funeral services are pending at Lange Funeral Home and Crematory in Centerville.
-
Betty D. Matelski
Betty D. Matelski, 85, of Davenport, passed away Wed-nesday, May 8, 2013 at Genesis East inDavenport. Services in celebration of her life were held at 5:15 p.m. Monday, May 13 at Weerts Funeral Home, Kimberly at Jersey Ridge Road in Davenport, where
- John Robert 'Bob' Walker Jr. John Robert "Bob" Walker Jr., 83, of Mystic, passed away Saturday, May 11, 2013 at Mercy Medical Center in Centerville. Funeral services will be held 11:30 Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at Lange Funeral Home and Crematory in Centerville. Burial will follo
- Joann Harwood Joann Harwood, 83, of Unionville, Mo., passed away Friday, May 10, 2013 at the Putnam County Memorial Hospital in Unionville, Mo. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 14 at the Midway Baptist Church in Unionville, Mo. with Pastor
-
Donald L. Kirby
Donald L. Kirby, 80, of Moulton, died Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at the Bloomfield Care Center in Bloomfield. He was born the son of Erca and Bessie (Adams) Kirby on Nov. 23, 1932 near Moulton. He graduated from the Moulton Community High Schools in 1952.
-
Harold 'Gene' Fowler
Harold "Gene" Fowler, 75, of Centerville, passed away Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at Centerville Nursing and Rehab Center in Centerville. He was born the son of Harold W. and Margaret (Matheson) Fowler on May 28, 1937 in Centerville. He graduated from the C
-
Dorothy V. Gordon
Dorothy V. Gordon, 89, of Mason City, passed away peacefully, Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at Heritage Care Center. A celebration of life was held at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 4 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N. Pennsylvania Ave. with Pastor Kathy Graves offic
- Donald L. Kirby Donald L. Kirby, 80, of Moulton, passed away Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at the Bloomfield Care Center in Bloomfield. Services have been entrusted to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Moulton.
- Harold Eugene Fowler Harold Eugene Fowler, 75, of Centerville, passed away Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at Centerville Nursing and Rehab in Centerville. Services have been entrusted to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Centerville.
-
Doyle M. Stevens
Doyle Stevens passed away peacefully Sat. May 4, 2013 to be with the Lord. Doyle was born to Henry and Anna (Walls) Stevens on Feb. 12, 1932, in Coatsville, Mo. He attended Moulton High School and soon after joined the Army, serving in Korea 1950-19
-
Roger P. Hamilton
Roger P. Hamilton, 54, formerly of Rockford, Ill., passed away April 30, 2013 in Iowa City, surrounded by his family. Born on June 6, 1958 in Rockford, Ill., he was the son of Percy and Gladys (White) Hamilton. An avid Green Bay Packers fan, Roger lo
- Charles L. Hungate Charles L. Hungate, 48 of Centerville, passed away Friday, May 3, 2013 at Mercy Medical Center in Centerville. Charles has been cremated and a family celebration of life service will be held at a later date. A memorial has been established to the Cha
- More Obituaries Headlines

