Faye Elsie Wookey

1916 - 2017

Faye Elsie Tomlinson Wookey, 101, of the Red Oak and Emerson area, passed away Thursday, March 23, 2017, at the Good Samaritan Society.
Faye Elsie Tomlinson Wookey, the daughter of Ray Martin and Elsie Charlotte (Rush) Tomlinson, was born Jan. 28, 1916 in Montgomery County. Her life began in a small farm home that was located on the northeast corner of what is now the Red Oak Country Club. She was the eldest of five girls and had one older brother. At the time of her birth, her parents owned that farm, which they later sold for use as a country club.
After the sale of their country club farm, the family moved into Red Oak, and Faye attended the old Bancroft School. In 1923, when Faye was in the second grade, the family purchased a Garfield Township farm four miles west of Red Oak. Faye and her siblings attended Garfield #6 country school.
On their family farm, the Depression days were difficult. The Ray Tomlinson family persevered with several ingenious projects to manage farm payments. They built a canning factory and planted seven acres of tomatoes, plus rows of green beans and sweet corn. During one year, over 10,000 tin cans of tomatoes were sold in cases. They had their own labels on their vegetables and sold them to wholesalers as far away as Omaha. The family also had a large dairy and each week sold 60 one-pound blocks of butter with their own label to Hotel Johnson and more to other places in Red Oak.
Since Faye was one of the oldest in the family, she had lots of responsibilities, helping with the cooking, washing, and child care along with the farm work, especially in 1931 when her father broke his leg and was bedfast for a considerable length of time.
Faye graduated from Red Oak High School and attended Red Oak Junior College. She obtained her Normal Training teaching degree and taught in rural schools.
Faye was united in marriage to Adrian Heuer Wookey on Jan. 1, 1935, at her parents' home. She and Adrian lived their married life in West Township, where they raised four children, Elaine, Charlotte, Kenneth, and Helen. Faye shared her talents with the community as an active member of the Hawthorne United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school, organized the serving of many farm sales and church dinners, and helped with the church maintenance. Over the years, many neighborhood men and boys appreciated the free haircuts she provided. Faye was also a 4-H leader, past BPW member, Rebekah Lodge member, and Montgomery County Women's Farm Bureau group member, where she was selected as Homemaker of the Year.
Her artistic talents came to light with her baking and decorating beautiful birthday, graduation, and wedding cakes. Faye loved baking and was noted for her rye bread and rolls, which she shared with many groups including the Emerson Senior Citizens.
Faye's way with words brought joy to many with her special stories, poems, and clever notes for many occasions. At age 80, Faye wrote a booklet, "Life on a Montgomery County Iowa Farm." Her story reflects the many changes that occurred during her lifetime.
Faye loved reading, sewing, quilting, doing puzzles, feeding the birds, traveling, and learning about new things and places.
Faye raised a bountiful garden and had a large flock of laying hens. With money earned from the sale of eggs and cream, Faye managed to provide most of the household needs for her family.
Faye was generous with her time and talents and always willing to lend a helping hand. Throughout her lifetime, she had a continued interest in family happenings, community and world events.
While working in her kitchen in the summer of 2014, Faye fell and fractured her hip. After surgical repair and therapy, she became a resident of the Good Samaritan Society in Red Oak in September. Faye participated in activities of the home and made new friends. She baked and decorated cookies for a fundraising event and baked and decorated a special cake for the home's 50th anniversary tree planting ceremony. She also wrote a special tribute to the Red Oak Good Samaritan Society, which she read at their 50th year program held at the Wilson Performing Arts Center in the summer of 2016. Faye graciously accepted her change of lifestyle and made her new home a welcoming place for new residents by making them cards, writing them poetry, and taking an interest in their lives. She was twice selected as the star resident of her new home.
Faye was preceded in death by her husband, Adrian Wookey in 1992; her son, Kenneth Wookey in 1965 in an auto accident; her parents; her brother, Dean Tomlinson and wife Anna LaVerne; her sister, Ruby Arnold and husband William; her sister, Erma Lyda and husband Cliff; brothers-in-law, Bill Taylor and Jared Woodfill; sons-in-law, Duane Warren, Dale England, Glenn M. Skallerup, M.D., and great-grandson, Daniel Williams.
Survivors include her daughters, Elaine England, Charlotte Skallerup, and Helen Adolphson and husband, Dr. Marvin Adolphson; grandchildren, Linda Dolch and husband Steve, Lois Petersen and husband Kyle, John Skallerup and wife Teresa, Becky Gross and husband Harold, Kathryn Dean and husband Grant, Diane Adolphson, Brad Adolphson, and Dr. Marla Williams and husband Chad; great-grandchildren, Matthew, Michael, Marshall, and Mikayla Dolch; Kirk, Chad , and Troy Petersen; Andrew and Nathan Skallerup; Maggie and Jane Gross; Molly and Henry Dean; Alice Williams; and Alex Adolphson; sisters, Fern Taylor and Lois Woodfill; and many other relatives and friends.
A celebration of life funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 29, 2017, at the Nelson-Boylan-LeRette Funeral Chapel. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, 2017, at the Nelson-Boylan-LeRette Funeral Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Hawthorne United Methodist Church or the charity of the donor's choice.
Nelson-Boylan-LeRette Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.