Clytie L. Chaney

Clytie Lucille Chaney, the youngest of four daughters of Ada Leona May (Brown) and Bert Alvin Bears, was born in Cainsville, Missouri on June 30, 1916. When Clytie was just a year old, her mother contracted tuberculosis and was institutionalized, where she died at an early age. The girls all helped raise one another and their father would take them along to the field during the day and watch as the girls played under the shade of the buggy. Eventually, the family moved to Clearmont, Missouri to be close to her father's brothers and their families. It was in Clearmont where Clytie received all her education.

On March 14, 1941, Clytie and Harvey Lee Chaney were married in Clearmont. Their marriage was blessed with two sons, Robert Lee and Richard Gale. The family farmed near several southwest Iowa communities until eventually moving to a farm east of Malvern, Iowa in 1949. Clytie enjoyed working side by side with Harvey on the farm. The family joined the Malvern United Methodist Church on April 3, 1949 and moved to a farm north of Malvern. Harvey and Clytie enjoyed traveling and working with the boys in 4-H. As Harvey began to experience health problems, the family moved into Malvern and Clytie began working at the Glenwood State Hospital School in Glenwood, Iowa. She worked there 12 years and took advantage of any in-service classes offered by the school. In 1971, their son Richard passed away in Germany while serving in the United States Army. Clytie and Harvey had been married 35 years when Harvey died on December 31, 1977.

Following Harvey's death, Clytie retired from the State School and continued to live in Malvern where she became more involved in her church and community. She served as president of the United Methodist Women and edited the church cookbook. Clytie joined the Senior Center and had served as president. She traveled throughout the eight counties in Southwest Iowa each month as the Mills County advocate and in 1994 received the Governor's Volunteer Award. Clytie was member of the Love Thy Neighbor Club when she lived on the farm and enjoyed her friends there. She loved flowers and her gardens and was a member of the Garden Club. For a time, Clytie tested roses for the Jackson & Perkins Greenhouse. She enjoyed quilting and by 2004, she had made 86 quilts, some of which she donated for raffles for Historical Society and Senior Center. Clytie loved to play cards, especially bridge. She also began to exercise by walking and won a trophy for her age group in the Mills County Fair 5-mile Fun Run. At age 80, she decided to quit walking. Clytie cherished her family and loved everyone and everything around her.

Clytie began wintering in Arizona where she remained busy and enjoyed dancing since there were no gardens or yard work. She always took great pride in driving the 1,560 miles each year between her homes. As her health began to fail, Clytie moved to the Oakland Manor Care Center in Oakland, Iowa and died on July 5, 2010, at the age of 94 years and 5 days. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Harvey Chaney; son Richard Chaney; and sisters, Angie Elam and husband Jesse, Violet Majors and husband Ross, and Velma Krumm and husband Jack.

Clytie is survived by her son Robert Chaney and wife Ann of Chagrin Falls, OH; five grandchildren and three great grandchildren; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.

Memorials suggested to the Richard G. Chaney Memorial Scholarship c/o Malvern Student Loan Fund, P.O. Box 120, Malvern, IA 51551.

Interment in the Malvern Cemetery.