Luella Bebout

Luella Irene (Shore) Bebout was born Sept. 7, 1916, in Lucas County. She graduated from the Normal Training (teaching) program of Chariton High School in 1933, and from Drake University in 1962, with a B.A. earned through many night and summer school classes. She taught in rural and town schools in Lucas, Marion and Jasper counties from the 1930s to the 1970s.

She met her husband, Worth Bebout, when he wrote her paychecks for Gosport School near Knoxville. They were married at the Little Brown Church in 1941. Their daughter Linda was born in 1948, and it was a source of great pride for Luella that Linda followed her mother and grandmother into teaching, as a professor of linguistics.

After her retirement and Worth’s death in 1978, she made a new life filled with family, world travel, bridge and clubs, such as Creative Writing. Her love of learning took her all the way into the computer age — she was an avid emailer well into her 90s. She passed away in Clarke County Hospital two days after her 99th birthday.

Luella was preceded in death by her husband, Worth; her sister, Eithel Gookin; and her brother Raymond. She is survived by her daughter, Linda and son-in-law, Bradford Arthur of Windsor, Ontario, Canada; her sister, Aletha Feight of Chariton; her sister, Elaine (Harley) Keeney of Chariton; and her brother-in-law, Leland Gookin of Fairfield.

A celebration of life was held on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton. Interment was at the Chariton Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Homestead Assisted Living. Condolences may be shared at www.pierschbacherfuneralhome.com