Obituary of Marguerite C. Kelso

Marguerite Christine Kelso, 94, of Creston died December 17, 2011, at Greater Regional Hospice Home. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, December 21, at Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City with burial at the Lone Tree Cemetery. Powers funeral home in Creston is caring for Marguerite's local arrangments. Marguerite Christine Kelso, daughter of Edna F. (Triplett) and Eugene E. Barnhart, was born January 1, 1917, in Missouri. Marguerite was married to Charles Everett Finley. They farmed, mostly in Johnson County. Marguerite was a homemaker and helped on the farm. She worked in retail and as a buyer for department stores in Iowa City. Marguerite later married William Merrill Kelso. They lived in Cedar Rapids and more than 40 years in Albuquerque, N.M. She was director of admissions and social services at the University of New Mexico Mental Health Center in Albuquerque. Marguerite and William moved to Creston in 2003. Marguerite is survived by her children, June (husband Richard) Madsen of Coralville, Richard (wife Stephani) Finley of Creston and Sharon (husband Robert) Viramontes of Summerville, S.C.; sister Elizabeth (husband J.W.) Courtney of Iowa City; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; son-in-law Fred McGinnis of Iowa City and a host of friends. Marguerite was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; daughter Dorothy McGinnis, Dec. 19, 2010; two sisters and three brothers.