Carol McClenathan

Carol Ruth (Miller) McClenathan was born November 27, 1936, to John and Matie (Petersen) Miller near Woodbine, Iowa. She attended country school in Lincoln Township and graduated from Woodbine High School in 1954. Carol Ruth worked at the Extension Office in Logan before graduating in 1962 from Jennie Edmundson School of Nursing in Council Bluffs. She then worked as an RN in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Carol Ruth married Elza McClenathan in 1966. They lived on a farm near Brooklyn, Iowa where she spent much of her time taking care of livestock and doing other farm work

Carol Ruth's greatest joy was spending time with her daughter. She also enjoyed gardening, sewing, baking and playing the piano. She loved animals ~ especially cats. Throughout her life she enjoyed walking through the timber and creeks, listening to birds and looking for wild flowers.

Carol Ruth moved to the Woodland Apartments in 1993. While here she acquired her lovely cat, Emily. She and her friend, Maxine, spent many happy and adventurous hours exploring the countryside, especially the Loess Hills. Carol Ruth moved to the Rose Vista Nursing Home in 1997.

Carol Ruth was an active member of Woodbine First United Methodist Church. She played the organ for church when she was a junior and senior in high school. She also played the pipe organ in Brooklyn. She enjoyed telling jokes and stories. Carol Ruth enjoyed memorizing Bible verses ~ especially from the Psalms. She enjoyed doing puzzles and playing Scrabble. She also enjoyed making seasonal cards for people. Carol Ruth was instrumental in getting the White Floral Gardens to be handicapped accessible. In addition to the United Methodist Church, Carol Ruth was close to the First Christian Church. She attended this church before the United Methodist Church installed the elevator.

Carol Ruth died on Thursday, November 28, 2013, at the Rose Vista Nursing Home at the age of 77 years and one day.

Carol Ruth was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Margaret Cox. She is survived by her daughter, Mary Helen McClenathan of Ottumwa, Iowa; four siblings, Elizabeth Bai of Edmonton Alberta, Canada, Helen Fischer and Charles Miller both of Woodbine, Iowa, Doris Ellen (Ray) Points of Mesquite, Nevada; brother-in-law, Donald Cox of Woodbine, Iowa; and many other relatives and friends.