Alice McIlrath

Alice L. McIlrath, 94, of Carroll and formerly of Grinnell, died September 20, 2017 at the Hawkeye Care Center in Carroll.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 26th at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell with Rev. David Arulnathan, pastor of the United Methodist Church in Churdan, officiating. Visitation was held one hour prior to the funeral service.  Pallbearers were Alan Edwards, Brian, Stan and Jeremy McIlrath, Justin Ryan and Michael Steffen. Honorary bearers were Joshua Dewberry, Jordan and Zachary Edwards, Connie Pritzel and Kaley McIlrath. Burial was in Prairie View Cemetery in Gilman.

Alice was born May 28, 1923 on her family farm near Colfax, the daughter of Ralph Guy and Cora Hazel Hevlin Scofield. She attended a country school near her home and was a 1940 graduate of Newton High School.

On June 1, 1941 she was united in marriage with John Raymond McIlrath, at Greencastle, Missouri. The couple farmed in the Newburg area for many years where she was very active in the everyday farm chores while raising her family.

Following the death of her husband, Raymond in 1978, she moved to Grinnell in 1979. She then moved to Ankeny in 1986 and later to rural Scranton where she lived with her daughter, Wendy. She had been a resident at Hawkeye Care Center for nearly a year.

Alice loved her life on the farm and running a successful farm operation. She was neat and tidy and organized. She enjoyed gardening, which included canning and freezing her produce. She held a passion for craft work and kept busy sewing, crocheting and quilting. Playing games (cribbage and Yahtzee) and putting together puzzles with her grandchildren was a lot fun for her. She was a good cook and enjoyed baking. She also enjoyed traveling, particularly to Florida.

Survivors include one daughter, Wendy Mount of Scranton, Iowa; six grandchildren: Mike Steffen, Michelle Edwards, Connie Pritzel, Justin Ryan, Brian McIlrath and Kaley McIlrath; seven great-grandchildren: Joshua Dewberry, Jordan and Zachary Edwards, Kayden and Dominic Stanzione, and Thomas and Tyler Pritzel. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; four children: Robert, John and Dennis McIlrath and Norma Ryan; and four siblings: Carroll, Norma, Charles and Iola May Scofield.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Alice L. McIlrath Memorial Fund.

Smith Funeral Home, Grinnell, Iowa. 641-236-3134.