Harriett Taylor, 80, of Newton and formerly of rural Lynnville, passed away peacefully Saturday afternoon, Apr. 25, 2020, at Wesley Life Park Centre in Newton. Due to the restrictions put in place by the Department of Public Health due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a private family graveside service was held in the Friends Cemetery in New Sharon. A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may made to the PALS (Poweshiek Animal League Services) or the North Mahaska Athletic Program and may be sent to the funeral home at: Holland-Coble Funeral Home, in care of Harriett Taylor, P.O. Box 85, New Sharon, IA 50207.
Harriett Virginia Taylor was born May 25, 1939, at the Methodist Hospital in Des Moines to Elgar and Velma (Lowry) Taylor. Harriett attended school in Lynnville until her junior year in high school when she transferred to New Sharon and graduated in 1957. She attended Iowa Wesleyan College, graduating in 1961 with a teaching degree, and later got her master’s degree from Drake University in 1970. She taught several years in Iowa before moving back to the family farm after her father died. She loved farming and successfully operated the farm with both livestock and grain. Harriett began spending the winter months in Scottsdale, AZ. When she returned to Iowa in 2016, she resided at Park Centre in Newton.
Harriett loved sports, especially basketball. In high school, she was an outstanding forward playing for both Lynnville and New Sharon. In her senior year, New Sharon played in the Iowa Girls State Tournament, and Harriet was named to an all-star team. Harriett was inducted into the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Hall of Fame in 1982.
One important part of Harriett’s life was her love for pets. One day, Harriett and her friend Dee were driving home and came across two little beagle hound puppies that had been left in a ditch. Bill and Betsy became an important addition to their lives. Bill and Betsy received hours of training and went to many dog shows that resulted in trophies and ribbons. Phoenix, a corgi, was Harriett’s last beloved dog and also attended and won many first-place awards. Training and showing her pets was very special and exciting to Harriett. Harriett was preceded in death by her parents; she is survived by many cousins.
The family would like to thank the Park Centre family for the loving care they provided Harriett in the last years of her life.
Vicki C. Floyd, 72
Vicki C. Floyd, 72, of Kellogg, died Friday, May 1, 2020, at UnityPoint Grinnell Regional Medical Center. No services are scheduled at this time. The Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory is handling the arrangements. Memorials to St. Jude Children’s Hospital may be mailed to the funeral home or to the family.
Vicki, the daughter of Robert and Marjorie (Adams) McQuiston, was born Mar. 28, 1948, in Newton. She was a lifelong resident of Jasper County. Vicki graduated from Newton High School in 1966 and later received her human services degree from DMACC. She worked as a correctional counselor for many years at the Newton prison, retiring in 2010. Apr. 7, 2007, Vicki was united in marriage with Steve Floyd in Newton. She was an avid reader and enjoyed going to flea markets and garage sales. Vicki also liked raising chickens. Her love of family and helping people was evident in the many foster children she raised through the years.
Vicki is survived by her husband, Steve Floyd of Kellogg; children, Joel Vande Krol of Lynnville, Stephanie (Doug) Verwers of Des Moines, Travis Vande Krol of Arizona, Brandi (Jose) Gallardo of Ames, Jessica (Mike) Rutter of Newton, and Debra Enger of Omaha; stepdaughter, Dessa (Jereomy) Faircloth of Kellogg; 17 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and one more on the way; her brother, Bob (Connie) McQuiston of Newton; and foster daughter, Sandi Purvis. She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Aaron Vande Krol; and a grandson, Tyler Faircloth.
