Iris Josephine Gummere

Feb. 27, 1911 - Feb. 23, 2008

STRATTON -- Iris Josephine Gummere, 96, of Stratton, died Saturday (Feb., 23, 2008) at Community Hospital in McCook.

She was born Feb. 27, 1911, at Culbertson, the daughter of Joe and Rena (Brown) McNiece, and grew up in the Culbertson area. She lived for three years in Upland, Calif., before returning to Culbertson, where she graduated from high school in 1930.

On Feb. 27, 1931, she married Ralph I. Gummere at Los Lunas, N.M. They lived on the Gummere homestead south of Stratton until 1965, when the moved to Stratton. In 2000, she moved to Grandview Retirement Center.

She was recognized as Volunteer of the Year four times while being an active member of the Grandview community.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church for more than 84 years. She belonged to the United Methodist Women, sang in the church choir, and was the Sunday school secretary for many years. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the MGR Club. She worked at the Farmers Store and the Bell Café in Stratton.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Rena McNiece; her husband, of 57 years, Ralph Gummere; infant daughter, Bernice Mavis; brothers, Dale McNiece, Winston McNiece; and sister, Josephine Petersen.

Survivors include her three sons, Earl Gummere and wife, Dorothy, Beryl Gummere and wife, Sharon and Wallace Gummere and wife, Gloria, all of Stratton; sisters, Eileen Moore of McCook, Mavis Petersen of Kearney and Jesslyn Stubbs of Culbertson; brother, Jack McNiece of Sun City, Ariz.; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, at 10:30 a.m., at Community United Methodist Church in Stratton, with Rev. Brian Fong, and Rev. Kevin Fink officiating. Interment will follow services at Rose Hill Cemetery near Stratton.

Visitation is today until 6 p.m. at Community United Methodist Church in Stratton.

Memorials may be given in her name to the Gideon's or to Grandview Retirement Center.

Arrangements are under the direction of Forch Funeral Chapel of Stratton.