Celeste Mary Herron

Celeste Mary Herron

Des Moines

Celeste Mary Herron, Des Moines, IA, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 14, 2012 at Urbandale Health Care Center. She has been surrounded by her loving family since being diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2005.

Celeste was born in Des Moines on August 5, 1923, a daughter of Arthur and Mary Pontier. She grew up on the family farm near Osceola, graduated from St Joseph Academy in Des Moines and also attended Drake University. On April 18, 1942 she married Ralph Herron at Bethany, Mo. Together they had three children, Steven, Douglas and Debbie.

Celeste loved being around young people and worked for 20 years in the Des Moines Public School System as a secretary. After her retirement in 1985 she became more active in all of her favorite pastimes. She enjoyed golfing (including two holes-in-one), playing bridge and dancing. These were things she loved to do with her loving husband, Ralph, of 70 years. They also loved to travel and spend time with their family.

Left to cherish the memories of her life are family; husband, Ralph Herron; son, Steven (LaVonda) Herron, Storm Lake, IA; son, Douglas (Mary) Herron, Sioux Falls, SD; and daughter, Debbie Lehfeld, Houston,TX; brothers, Frank (Willodean) Pontier, Alex (Donna) Pontier, and sister-in-law, Luella Pontier. Also six grandchildren, Marc (Becky) Herron, Tami (Jeff) Bosco, Douglas Herron Jr., Julie Lyn (Shane) Powers, Lauren (Brian) Baker, Lindsay (Luke) Robison, seven great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law and friends, all of whom will miss her dearly.

All of the following preceded her in death: her parents; brother, Arthur Jr.; sister, Florence (Arman) Mortale; grandson, Daniel Herron; daughter-in-law, Judy Herron; and sisters-in-law, Ardis (Kendrick) Swain and Ruth (George) Lauser.

Funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 17 at St. Mary of Nazareth Catholic Church in Des Moines. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, April 16 at Iles Funeral Homes-Westover Chapel, followed by a vigil service at 7 p.m. Monday. Committal services will be held at Glendale Cemetery, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 18, her 70th wedding anniversary.

Memorials can be sent to the American Parkinson's Disease Association. Online condolences may be left at www.IlesCares.com.