Loraine Earls Safly

Loraine Earls Safly, 87, died on November 20, 2022 at the Green Hills Health Care Center in Ames, IA.
Born In Little Rock, AR on September 15, 1935 to Dr. Lester and Mary Snyder Earls, Loraine was the oldest of two daughters. The family moved to Ames before Loraine started school. She and her sister, Ellen Earls Hendricksen, were known in Ames as the Earls girls. Loraine attended Welch Junior High and graduated from Ames High School. She received her B.A. degree in home economics from Iowa State College.
The majority of Loraine's life was spent in and around Ames. She was a long-time member of Collegiate United Methodist Church where she met Dean Safly while singing in the church choir. The couple was married on July 15, 1956 at Collegiate and began a loving partnership of 48 years. They had two children.
Loraine was truly an example of Christian service in action. With her indefatigable energy, her passion was to bring joy and provide help to the lives of those around her. She delivered countless meals and flowers from her garden to friends in need always with her smile and abundant optimism.
Loraine continued her service to her community as Director of Boone Community Services in Boone, IA, a non-profit agency with a mission to help those in need whether they be survivors of domestic abuse, families in financial crisis, women striving for more education or individuals assigned by the court to community service. If Loraine saw a need,she worked hard to start a program to help. She held this position for more than 30 years. In 1996 Loraine was selected as Boone's "Person of the Year'' for her selfless efforts. Before this, she worked for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and was an elementary school librarian. Loraine and Dean farmed west of Ames and she thoroughly enjoyed her role in the farming operation.
Loraine was active in the Madrid, IA P.E.O. chapter, an international philanthropic organization promoting the advancement of women, and a member of Questers in Ames. She volunteered for many years on the Iowa State University campus as a Brunnier Art Museum docent and guide at the Farm House Museum, a National Historic Landmark built in 1860.
Loraine loved reading to her grandchildren, traveling with her family to Israel, Egypt and all over Europe, hiking in many national parks in the U.S, listening to a great opera, baking chocolate chip cookies in her farmhouse kitchen, caroling at Christmas to the neighbors, caring for her sixty mother pigs and their piglets in the family's hog operation and feeding the birds.
She is survived by her sister, Ellen (Stan) Hendricksen (Hamilton, MT). Surviving children are Jane (David Hoffman) Rogers (Tryon, NC); David (Lori) Safly (Sheboygan, WI). Surviving grandchildren are Patrick Rogers, Michael Rogers, Emma Safly and Ethan Safly. Surviving nieces are Sarah Windsor and Mary Marsh. Loraine was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Dean.
The family wishes to thank Suncrest Hospice as well as staff members in the Green Hills Retirement Community and Health Care Center for their compassionate care of Loraine.
ARRANGEMENS BY ILES SUNDBERG-KIRKPATRICK CHAPEL
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