E. Lauree Widick Deal, age 87, long-time resident of rural Bagley, passed away Sunday, May 24, 2020, at Israel Family Hospice House in Ames with her girls by her side.
Lauree was born July 28, 1932, to Clifford and Ione Widick of rural Stratford. Lauree was raised on a farm and attended country school until high school. As a young girl, she was a horsewoman and an excellent seamstress.
She worked in the family restaurant, graduating from Lehigh High School. She began college at Iowa State Teachers’ College at the age of 17. There, she met the love of her life, Robert ‘Bobby’ Deal. Within three weeks they were engaged and in three months, married at the United Methodist Church in Lehigh.
She finished an associate degree, taught one semester in Rippey, and then joined her husband in Baltimore where he served in the United States Army during the Korean War. They moved to San Antonio, TX, when he was assigned to the Counter Intelligence Corps. It was there that their first daughter, Kathleen Marie, was born.
Upon discharge from the service, they returned to Iowa to the Deal family farm where Bob was born and raised. Their family grew with the birth of Donna Lee and Carol Ann. Bob coached and taught in Linden, Bagley, and Bayard and they farmed. Following obtaining his master’s degree, he served as elementary principal in Coon Rapids. Lauree taught fourth grade in Guthrie Center School. She commuted to Drake University to complete her bachelor’s degree and went right on to earn her master’s degree in education.
Lauree owned and operated a fabric store, Lauree’s Fabrics, in Bagley. She became a Mary Kay sales director at the age of 76, achieving many honors. She was a member of Greenbrier United Methodist Church and a variety of women’s service organizations. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1985, her parents, and her siblings Pearl Mae Widick Lauver, Donnie Widick, and Audrey Widick Schmoker.
She is survived by daughters Kathleen Deal, (Mark Hauge) of Bagley and Stanhope, DonnaDeardorff (Kevin) of Ames, and Carol Eilers (Dave) of Grimes; grandchildren Lucas (Amber) Deardorff, Betsy (Nick) Crist, Devin (Shanna) Eilers, Karen Lauree Eilers, Chelsea Eilers; and great-grandchildren Elaina, Natalya, and Elijah Deardorff, and Henry and Elizabeth Crist. She is also survived by beloved nieces and nephews and many dear friends.
For the health and safety of all, services Friday, May 29, at Dodge Township Cemetery were limited to immediate family. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, Jefferson.
