Elta Lair
March 03, 2010
- Share:
-
-
-
Service Details
Elta V. Lair, 94, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at Mercy Medical Center.
Elta was born January 16, 1916 in Monroe, Iowa. She grew up in the Carlisle area and moved to Des Moines in 1942. During World War II she was one of the first women hired by Armstrong Tire and Rubber Company and retired in 1969 after 26 years of service.
On January 1, 1961 Elta Leftwich married Gerald “Kelly” Lair in Des Moines. In Elta’s younger years, she liked to bowl, loved to fish and go to the dog races, always betting on the number one dog. Later in her life, she enjoyed playing Dominos with her friends at Mercy Court, trips to Prairie Meadows with her daughter and daughter-in-law and dearly loved the pizza and poker parties with her children, grandchildren and sometimes great-grandchildren. She loved chicken legs from KFC, Christmas lights and Christmas music. Her favorite being, “Blue, Blue Christmas” by Elvis. Her cats Sheba I and later, Sheba II (now residing in California) were her babies. She always loved baseball, the Cubs were her favorite team.
Elta was preceded in death by her parents; all her siblings; son, Gene Edward Leftwich; grandson, Randy Lair; sons-in-law, Jim Azinger and Jim Wilson; and her husband of 41 years, Gerald “Kelly” Lair.
Left to share her memory are her children, Jeanette Leftwich of Port Hueneme, CA, Larry (Mary) Leftwich of Course Gold, CA, Jerry (Susie) Lair, Jack (Dee) Lair, Judy Wilson and Joan Azinger all of Des Moines and Joe (Candee) Lair of St. Charles, IA; 18 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 8, 2010 at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, followed by burial at Glendale Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Animal Rescue League.
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Dana & Denny Warrick
03/07/2010
To my dear friend Nikki and Family,
I have a poem that I hope will bring you joy. It's titled "Grandma's Pearls of Wisdom"
-I've traveled paths you've yet to walk, learned lessons old and new. And now this wisdom of my life I'm blessed to share with you.
Let kindness spread like sunshine, embrace those who are sad. Respect their dignity, give them joy and leave them feeling glad.
Forgive those who might hurt you and though you have your pride, listen closely to their viewpoint and try to see their side.
Walk softly when you're angry, try not to take offense. Invoke your sense of humor because laughter's power is immense!
Express what you are feeling, your beliefs you should uphold. Don't shy away from what is right; be courageous and be bold.
Keep hope right in your pocket, it will guide you day by day. Take it out when it is needed. When it's near, you'll find a way.
Remember friends and family, of which you are a precious part. Love deeply and love truly; give freely from your heart.
The world is far from perfect, there's conflict and there's strife. But you still can make a difference by how you live your life.
And so I'm very blessed to know the wonders you will do. Because you are my grandchildren and I believe in you.-
Grandmas are one of a kind and when we lose them it feels like we've lost our world. We can only hope that the lessons they've taught us will continue to help us grow so that we too can become as wise and loving as they were.
With all our love,
Dana and Denny