March 28, 2024

Pearl A. Guessford

July 10, 2017

Pearl A. Guessford, 88, a longtime resident of Kellogg, died July 10, 2017, at the Care Initiative in State Center. A time of remembrance and celebration of life will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 14 at the Pence-Reese Funeral Home in Newton, with visitation at the funeral home one and half hours prior to the services. In lieu of flowers as an expression of sympathy, memorials may be designated to the family in Pearl’s name.

Pearl was born in Newton, Sept. 8, 1928, to Alice and Merlyn Guessford in the home of her grandparents, Mary and Lee Ander Guessford. The family later moved to Kellogg, where Pearl grew up with her five sisters and went to school. She graduated from Kellogg High School in 1948. After school Pearl moved and worked in Des Moines, until the birth of her daughter Roxanna. She then moved back to Kellogg to work and raise her daughter, with the help of her parents. She worked at the Kellogg Savings Bank for many years, then worked at Kellogg Factory until retirement.

Pearl was a life time member of the Christian Church Disciples of Christ where she was an active participant of CWF and worked in the nursery for many years. She loved to do many crafts especially knitting. When she found out someone was having a baby she would knit a baby blanket.

She loved spending time with her daughter and her family as often as she could. She adored and spoiled her granddaughter, Stefanie, with love. She loved spending time with the rest of her family also, taking care of her nieces, nephews and their children. She took care of her mother until her death. Pearl spent time in Florida during the winters with Merna, where she had an active life at the church in Florida.

Pearl had a big heart and would adopt many people into her family and life. She will be missed.

She is survived by her daughter, Roxanna (Mike) Bodie of State Center; granddaughter, Stefanie Bodie (Jerimiah Smith) of Helena, Ala.; sisters, Goldie Neveln of Cedar Rapids, Ida Eivins of Lorimor and Merna Guessford of Kellogg; numerous nieces and nephews; and many good friends and neighbors.

She is preceded in death by her parents; and sister, Earlene in infancy; plus sisters and brothers-in-law, Florence (Wilbur) McNichols, Hester (Gearold) Wyatt, Ed Neveln and Darrel Eivins; niece, Dee Ann Neveln; nephew, Marlin Eivins; and a great-niece, Heather Reminsieder.

Online condolences may be left for the family at pencefh.com.