Iva Dean was born with her identical twin sister Ila Jean to GreenBerry and Charlsie (Helton) Pope of Kingdom City on May 30, 1931, in Fulton, Missouri - one (or two!) of what would be 14 children.
Iva attended Craig's (one room school house) down the road from their home-place (affectionately known as "Popeville") and graduated from Fulton High School in 1949.
Her first real job off of the family farm was working in the dining hall at Missouri School for the Deaf. During that time she met the love of her life, Johnny Reed. John had joined the Army and they were apart for a whole year, however, when he returned from Korea - she took the train to New Jersey and they were married at Camp Kilmer in June of 1952.
Iva Dean was able to travel the world with John and loved every moment of the experience! They had 4 children, two boys and two girls - born around the world and close to home: Johnny (Debbie) of Missouri; Mark (Deborah) of Missouri; Mireille (Lance) of California; and Elizabeth (Jay) of Texas.
Iva Dean was an active member of Richland Baptist Church, a member of the Busy Bee Club, and a very active member of the Order of Eastern Star Chapter 35, Fulton, where she received her 50 year pin recently. She loved cooking, gardening, sewing, quilting, fishing, humming birds, blue birds and cardinals, painting and drawing, but most of all her family.
When her youngest was well into grade school, Dean began working at the Hatton McCredie school kitchen preparing lunches, then moved up to North Callaway High School's Kitchen Dept. And when she baked cinnamon rolls the lunch tickets sold out!! After sometime she worked at the Bakery at Gerbes then welcomed the opportunity to work once again at Missouri School for the Deaf. She made so many lifelong friends. When she retired, Dean and John would stay summers at their home in McCredie and then stay at their home in Corpus Christi for the winter, her love of travel never faded!
Iva Dean is preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and and all 13 of her siblings; Mabel Irene, Mary Edith, Lena May, Dorothy Fern, Nancy Roberta, James David, Joseph Lee, Mildred Lucille, Ruby Jewel, Ila Jean, Charlsie Faye, Arthur William and John Robert (twins!). She is survived by her beautiful Sister-in-Law Mary Ruth Watts of Oklahoma; and her wonderful Brother-in-Law Virgil Monk of Idaho.
She is also survived by her 10 grandchildren: Stephanie Hays; Rachelle Reed; Angelina Ackerman; Angelica Smith (twins!); Matthew Shippen; Sophia Reed; Jason Reed Green; Charlsie Green; Trevor Grant; and Gunnar Grant; 5 Great-Grand Children; and numerous Nieces and Nephews.
Visitation will be Sunday, May 17th from 2-5pm at Debo Funeral Home, 833 Court Street, Fulton, MO. A Private Memorial Service for Family on Monday May 18th, and Public Graveside Services at 2:00 Callaway Memorial Gardens, 1700 US Business HWY 54S, Fulton.
Her light shined bright - she touched many lives with her warm smile, good nature, and positive attitude.
