Earl Latham

Earl Marion Latham, son of John Walter Latham and Cleone Ruth (Long) Latham, was born on April 10, 1928, on the family farm near Arispe, Iowa.

Earl passed from this life July 11, 2019, at the Clarke County Hospital Extended Care Wing, Osceola, IA, at 91 years of age.

Earl lived most of his life in the Murray area. He graduated from Arispe High School in 1946. He married Bonnie Joyce Beaman on January 23, 1951, in Atchison, KS. Two children blessed this union; son, Doug, and daughter, Beryl.

Earl was a very caring, loving, and helpful man, always willing to help out anyone however he could. He was a family man who loved having family together, especially his grand kids (Wyatt, Laura, Tara, and Brian) and great-grand kids (Dominic, John, Dakota, and William).

Earl was an excellent farmer and livestock producer throughout his lifetime. Earl also cared for a large garden, growing a wide variety of vegetables. He served as a special education driver for Murray Community School for four years during his retirement. Earl lived on the family farm north of Murray until ill health forced him into the extended care facility.

Earl and Joyce enjoyed several vacations in the south and western parts of the United States. They enjoyed attending the Iowa State Fair, and were supporters of Murray Community School and the Murray United Methodist Church. Earl was a kind and loving person and a faithful friend who will be greatly missed. He loved his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Those relatives who preceded Earl in death were: his wife, Joyce Latham; his parents, John and Cleone Latham; sister, Norma Sweet and husband, Francis; and sister-in-law, Dorie Latham.

Earl leaves to cherish his memory:  son, Doug (Pat) Latham of Earlham; daughter, Beryl (Doug) Stearns of Osceola; brother, John Latham, of Creston; sister, Joyce (Dick) Ross, Creston. Grandchildren: Wyatt Latham, Ankeny; Laura Stearns, Afton; Tara Latham, DeSoto; Brian (Paige) Stearns, Spencer. Great-Grandchildren: Dominic Latham, John Stearns, Dakota Latham, and William Stearns, as well as other relatives and many friends.

Services will be held at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola, Wednesday July 17, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Brian McCracken officiating.

The family will greet friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 16, 2019, at Kale Funeral Home.

Interment will follow in the Murray Cemetery at 1:30 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family for a fitting tribute to be decided at a later time.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.kalefuneralhome.com.