Earl Boles
Earl
Raymond Boles was born to R.J. and Sadie (Van Cleve) Boles
on July 29, 1918 on a farm near May City, Iowa. He lived on a farm
on the edge of Hartley from 1920-1928. The family then moved to Ocheyedan,
living on several farms before moving to May City in 1937. Earl took
part in many school activities in
Ocheyedan, including school plays, music and sports, graduating in
1937 as class President.
Earl was very active in 4H, taking several honors in show rings with
his purebred Hampshire hogs. He was on a judging team at the Iowa
State Fair. He became a 4H club leader and served in Osceola and Dickinson
Counties for twenty-five years.
He was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Phyllis M.
Woodworth on October 7, 1939 at Ocheyedan. During his fifty-year career
in farming, the couple lived in several communities, including May
City, Terril, Arnolds Park, west of Milford, then east of Milford
for thirty years. He was interested in both purebred Hampshire swine
and Angus cattle throughout his farming career, ending up raising
crossbred sheep.
Earl was active in the Excelsior Methodist Church and the Merry Mixers
young married group in the church.
Earl passed away Tuesday, May 17, 2005 at Milford Nursing Center in
Milford at eighty-six years of age.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-five years, Phyllis; sons, Bud
of Milford, Paul and his wife Charlene of Mt. Pleasant and Russell
and his wife Sharon of Primghar; daughter-in-law, Nancy Goering and
her husband Duane of Westbrook, Minnesota; grandchildren Jason Boles
and his wife Andrea, Jennifer Furler and her husband Jason, Scott
Boles and his wife, Jamie, Nicolle Hill and her husband Michael, Keri
Buresch and her husband Byron, Ronda Darling and her husband Kevin;
Kim Lee and her husband Lee and Lori Kocak and her husband Rob. Earl
is also survived by fourteen great grandchildren, brothers Roy Boles
and his wife Shirley and Ralph Boles and his wife Delores; sister
Evelyn Dotson and her husband Dale; several nieces, nephews, cousins
and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, son John (52) and a grand
daughter, Michelle Boles (7).
The Lord is my Shepard; I shall not
want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the
still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall
fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort
me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint
my head with oil; My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
