Inez C. Miller-Elsbury

Inez Carlotta Carlson - Miller - Elsbury passed away on Thursday, January 17, 2013 at Mercy Living Center South in Clinton, Iowa at the age of one- hundred years - five months. Inez Carlotta Carlson was born August 2, 1912 in a sod house near Wewela, Tripp County, South Dakota. In the early 1900's her parents, Oscar M. Carlson and Margaret J. Moles Carlson had homesteaded a quarter section of land in Tripp County. Inez was the third of nine children with five brothers and two sisters. She attended high school in Colome, South Dakota and was able to obtain a teaching certificate with that education. She taught in numerous one room country schools in both South Dakota and Iowa, following her parents when they moved from their homestead to a small farm north of Maquoketa in Jackson County. She finished her teaching career at Andrew Community Schools retiring in 1977, having taught there for over twenty years. Inez always believed in and stressed the value of a good education and throughout her teaching career she took night courses to keep her teaching certificate up to date. During summer vacations she enrolled in courses at Mount St. Claire College in Clinton. She finally realized her dream and received her Bachelors of Science degree in education from Upper Iowa University in Fayette in the summer of 1970. On May 25, 1944 she married Percy Miller, a Sand Prairie farmer (and later an electrician for Stickley Electric), in the living room of her parents rural home. Inez is survived by three children borne to this union: Joel Miller and his wife Diane of Delavan, Wisconsin; Ronald Miller and his wife Leanna of Crystal Lake, Illinois; and Penny Royer and her husband Dwight of Clinton, Iowa. Her husband, Percy, preceded her in death on February 2, 1970. Inez is also survived by one sister, Margaret Reed of rural Spragueville, seven grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. On September 15, 1979, she married Wallace Elsbury in Maquoketa, Iowa. He preceded her in death in 1997. Inez was a long time resident of Clinton having lived for a number of years at Sarah Harding Retirement Home, Bickford Cottage assisted living and finally - Mercy Living Center South. Inez was an avid reader and enjoyed playing cards while at Mercy South. Her family surprised her with many guests (family and friends) at a celebration of her one-hundredth birthday in July of 2012. She was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ of Clinton. Funeral Services will be 11:00am, Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at the First Congregational Church with visitation from 10:00am to the service hour. She will be laid to eternal rest alongside the love of her life, Percy at the Andrew Cemetery – Andrew, Iowa. Serving as pallbearers will be Todd Royer, Eric Royer, Ryan Royer, Brian Miller, Mark Reed, David Reed, and Joshua Flannigan. Memorials can be made to the church. The Clinton Chapel Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes & Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Inez C. Miller-Elsbury

August 2, 1912 - January 17, 2013