Priscilla Still

Priscilla Hart Nicholson Still, 94, passed away peacefully in the early hours of April 17. Funeral services will be held on April 21, 11:00 a.m. at the Scranton United Methodist Church with Pastor Joyce Webb officiating. Burial to follow in the Scranton Cemetery. Family visitation will take place from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the church prior to the service. Lunch will be served at the church following the burial. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Scranton and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com

Priscilla grew up in rural Scranton, on the farm her grandparents, Charles and Priscilla Swaim, established in 1886. She graduated from Scranton Consolidated High School and went on to study at Pasadena Community College in California while living with her mother’s sister Hazel Powell. She then completed her B.A. from the University of Iowa, following which she worked in Chicago and Kentucky before joining the Red Cross during World War II. She was stationed in Casablanca, Morocco, where she met her husband, who was from Alabama. They returned to Iowa, where he farmed and she later taught high school Spanish and English and was the school librarian for almost 25 years.
Priscilla was an active member of the Scranton community, a member of the United Methodist Church and UMW, the Philemon Club, the Sorosis Club, the Heritage Club, and a Girl Scout leader.  She and John enjoyed playing bridge and traveling, with one of their more memorable trips being to China.

Priscilla moved from Scranton to West Des Moines, in 2008, and was most recently a resident of Fountain West Health Center. Although too many of her friends and contemporaries have already gone on, she will be fondly remembered by a few remaining dear friends, family, and community members.

She is survived by her four children: Marcia (Virginia Monge) of San Jose, Calif., Nick (Liz) of Taos, N.M., Cynthia Birk (Terry) of Reno, Nev., and Hallie Still-Caris (David Caris) of Des Moines; five grandchildren: Joshua Still, Libby Still Rode (Charles), Jacob Still, Charlie Caris, and Libby Caris; one great-grandchild, Everson Rode; sister and brother-in-laws Barbara and Frank Chappell; nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband of over 50 years, John Julius Still; by her parents Ned J. and Marcia Hart Nicholson; by her brother, John Hart Nicholson; and by her uncle, Charles S. Nicholson.   

Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home.