Iona Faye Woehrle

Iona Faye Woehrle Iona Faye Woehrle, 85, Springfield, passed away at 7:43 a.m. Monday, December 21, 2009, after a seven year battle with cancer. Faye was born October 7, 1924, near Weaubleau, the first of four daughters of Cecil and Zelva (Wilson) Nunn. She was raised on a small farm without electricity or indoor water and as the first child handled many tasks that normally would belong to sons. At the age of 18, Faye married a young farmer, Ralph Crawford. Shortly after the birth of their son, Ralph was inducted into the Army during World War II, sent overseas and was killed in action against the Germans. After the war, Faye moved to Kansas City, where she worked at the telephone company. She met and married James K. Dickerson who was in the construction business. As a supervisor, Jim's work took the couple all over the United States. After 37 years on the road, they finally settled back in the Kansas City area, where in retirement Jim died of cancer. For several years after Jim's death Faye resided in a duplex apartment in Independence. Then, because of a fire in the adjoining apartment, she was forced to leave. About that time a close, longtime friend of Jim and Faye's, Charles Woehrle, called and asked her to come to Vienna, Virginia to help his sister-in-law and him close up his house following the death of his wife, Bettie, after 50 years of marriage. During the process, Faye and Charles found they had similar likes and many things in common. Ultimately that chance encounter resulted in their marriage 12 years ago on December 7, 1997. Faye is survived by her husband, Charles, of the home; her son, William K. Crawford, Odessa; her daughter, Mary Ellen Gallman, Independence; her step-son, Thomas Woehrle, Fredericksburg, Virginia; 3 sisters, Louise Clark, Lebanon, Doris Guffey, Bolivar and Glenda Bays, Lee's Summit; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Faye was a lady of beauty and great integrity. She was an exceptionally talented china painter and an avid reader. She was a member and past-president of the Springfield Chapter of the World Organization of China Painters and a lifetime member of Missouri Chapter 11 of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary. Her volunteer work included over 10 years at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Kansas City. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, December 26, 2009, in Murray Funeral Home, Bolivar, with Rev. David Van Giesen officiating. Interment will be in Barren Creek Cemetery, west of Bolivar. Visitation will be Saturday from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Online condolences may be made at www.murrayfuneral homes.com. If you desire, as an aid in the fight against cancer, in lieu of flowers contributions in memory of Iona Faye Woehrle may be made to the Cox Health Foundation, 3525 S. National, Springfield, MO 65807.