Zada Iona Mowrer, age 96 of Claremont, Illinois passed away at 9:30 PM, on Friday, May 2nd, 2014 at Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney.

Iona was born at home on July 26th, 1917 in Searcy, Arkansas, the daughter of Finn Mowrer, and Oti (Ott) Mowrer. Iona never married, but opened her home and her heart to the five children of her brother, Forrest, providing care, financial support, and educational opportunities for them over many years.

Iona's professional teaching career spanned more than 40 years. In 1957 Iona received a 2 year provisional teaching credential from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, and started her first job teaching grades 1-8 at the one room Moore School in Claremont. Iona's college years coincided with the height of the Great Depression. Ten years later she completed her bachelor's degree while working every year, living at home to help with the farm work, attending classes in the summer, and taking 2 years off to work as a "Rosie the Riveter," helping to build airplanes in Detroit, Michigan during WWII. After the war, Iona accepted a position as an elementary physical education specialist in Princeton, Illinois. She completed her Masters Degree at Washington State University and was offered an instructor's position in January, 1958 at the University of Nevada, Reno. She spent the next 22 years training and supervising students in elementary physical education, as well as teaching many general activity classes in dance, and individual and team sports. She retired in 1980 as an Associate Professor.

Iona fell in love with the scenery and wide open spaces of the American West where she spent many years camping, fishing, and hiking. She was a member of the Sierra Club in Reno. She enjoyed gardening and lively conversation with everyone she came into contact with. Iona will be sadly missed by her family, friends, and all who knew her.

Iona is survived by her brother Richard Mowrer of Claremont, nephews Orville, Charles, Marvin, Christopher and Arlie Mowrer, Robert and Richard Webber, Stanley, Johnny, Darrell, and Daniel Martin and  nieces Carolyn Sue Piper, Ellen Thompson, Pam Martin and Judy Schapker. She is also survived by 18 great nieces and nephews as well as numerous great-great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Finn and Oti Mowrer; brother, Forrest Mowrer; sister, Jessie Martin and nephew, Clifford Mowrer.

Cremation rites accorded. Graveside service at Antioch Cemetery in Claremont.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL)