Ione Frances Florey

Ione F. Florey, age 87, Clark, formerly of Watertown, the widow of Gerald H. and George L. Florey, Sr, died in the Golden Living Center at Clark early Sunday morning, December 7, 2008.

Funeral services will be Thursday, December 11th, 2008 at 11AM in the Watertown Presbyterian Church at Watertown with burial following in the Mt. Hope Cemetery at Watertown. Visitation will be for family members prior to the services. There will be no visitation on Wednesday at the funeral home in Clark. The Rev. Richard Poppen will officiate.  Casketbearers will be her grandchildren. The music will be provided by Marsha Bullis as pianist with congregational singing.

She was born in a log home at Imogene, SD, near Faith on November 3, 1921, the daughter of George and Jessie C. (Burge) Sandidge. She attended school at Faith, SD and then graduated from Watertown High School in 1939 and then attended General Beadle College at Madison, SD. Following her college education, she became an elementary teacher in country school for 4 years.

She married Gerald H. Florey in 1940. He died of polio a short time later. She then was united in marriage to George L. Florey on August 31, 1944. The couple lived and worked in the Watertown area. They spent some of the winter months in Louisiana and Texas. He died on December 28, 1996. She continued making Watertown her home until moving to Clark a few years ago.

Some of her hobbies included fishing with her husband George and traveling. Many of her fondest moments were spent in the kitchen – canning, baking and making the best macaroni and cheese – as told by a granddaughter. She loved spending time with her grandchildren.

She was a former member of the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Watertown where she had taught Sunday School and was a member of a circle group. Currently she was a member of the Presbyterian Church at Watertown.

Survivors include children, Lucy Johnson of Clark, Sherry L. (Glenn) Heath of Rogers, MN and George (Deb) Florey of Clark, 17 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren, a daughter-in-law, Ann Florey and a son-in-law, Wayne Kannas, both of Watertown and sisters-in-law, Shirley and Audrey Sandidge.

Preceding her in death were her parents, husbands, children, Darwin Florey, Louellen Teeters & Deb Kannas, a grandson, son-in-law, Morris (Bob) Johnson, 3 brothers, Neil, Jay (Dorothy) and Dwight Sandidge and a sister, Helen (Moody) Baker.

Arrangements are with the Furness Funeral Home at Clark where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com