Mara Lou Jeter

Mara Lou Jeter, 94, of Creston, died Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at Creston Specialty Care in Creston. Open visitation will be 2-7 p.m., with family receiving friends from 5-7 p.m., Friday, May 31, at Powers Funeral Home, junction of highways 34 and 25 in Creston. Private burial of cremains will be at a later date in Grove Chapel Cemetery, southwest of Creston.

Memorials may be given to the Platte Center Presbyterian Church. Online condolences may be left at www.powersfh.com.

Mara Lou Jeter was born Nov. 24, 1929, the daughter of Cornelius “Bud” Brown and Sylvia Noreen (Chandler) Brown, at her parent’s home in Platte Township. She graduated from Creston High School in 1948. On Aug. 27, 1948, Mara Lou married Oren Leroy Jeter at her parents home in Platte Township. They started farming in Ringgold County before buying a farm in Union County.

Oren and Mara Lou were members of the Platte Center Presbyterian Church, Farm Bureau Peppy Steppers Square Dance group and Union County Saddle Club.

Mara Lou is survived by a sister, Sharon Sobotka of Diagonal; daughter, Kathy (Steve) Francis of Creston; son, Duane (Lori) Jeter of Creston; grandchildren, Angie (Francis) (husband Richard) Waddington of Dubuque and Tracy Francis (Kristylee) of Leadville, Colorado; great-grandchildren Carter and Morgan Waddington of Dubuque; sisters-in-law, Shirley Ruth Ide, Marilyn Larimor and Cheryl Paulus, all of Creston and Dixie Dolezal of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and several nieces and nephews.

Mara Lou was preceded in death by her parents; an infant son, Gary Lee; husband, Oren Jeter; brothers, Harlan Brown and Bud Brown; sisters-in-law, Lila Brown and Florence Dick; brothers-in-law: Butch Sobotka, Frank Ide, Basil Dick and Earl Jeter.