Mabel Elsie Heagy

Mabel Elsie Heagy, 89, of Elvaston, died on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, at River Hills Village in Keokuk, Iowa.

She was born on Dec. 7, 1919, a daughter of Harry and Hattie Lucinda Gavillet Launer. Mabel married Herman Heagy on Feb. 14, 1938, in Palmyra, Mo. He died in 1960. In 1971, Mabel was blessed to meet a special friend, Wendell Markey. He died in 1996.

Mabel is survived by three sisters, Mardelle Reed of Basco, Jean Berg of rural Carthage, and Marilyn (Abe) Cameron of rural Carthage; one brother, Leo (Jean) Launer of Warsaw; and by numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Wilma Shay and Leota Antoine; and five brothers, Don Launer, Russell Launer, William Launer, Rodney Launer and Homer Launer.

Mabel attended Apple Grove School in Hancock County and Elvaston School in Elvaston, graduating from Elvaston High School in 1937 as salutatorian of her class. She was a long time active member of the Elvaston Presbyterian Church in Elvaston. Mabel and her husband owned and operated a small grocery store in Elvaston for many years, opening the Superette in 1957 and closing it in 1974. She served as Elvaston Village Clerk from 1985 through 2006.

Mabel was active in the community of Elvaston by helping with the rural water project, by helping decorate the park for Christmas and by tending to the flowers in the park during the spring and summer months. In 1997, Mabel won the Wal-Mart Economic Development Grant National Competition as the recipient of the American Hometown Leadership Award for outstanding leadership of communities of 25,000 or less.

She enjoyed baking and was well known for her peanut butter pie and angel food cake. She also enjoyed cooking and flowers, especially African Violets. She especially loved the time she spent visiting with her family and special friends.

Services are held on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 10:30 a.m. at the Elvaston Presbyterian Church in Elvaston, with Pastor Ron Leonard officiating. Burial is in Elvaston City Cemetery in Elvaston.

Visitation is held on Wednesday Oct. 28, after 3 p.m., with the family meeting friends between 5 and 8 p.m. at the Lamporte-St.Clair Funeral Home of Hamilton.

Memorials have been established for the Elvaston Presbyterian Church, Salvation Army, or St. Jude's Children's Hospital.