This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: WandaPurcell13 Surnames: Allison, Bills, Myers, Rennels, Jencks Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.oklahoma.counties.rogermills/8740/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Funeral services for Iona Bills Peterson Allison will be conducted on Friday, March 28, 2008 at 2 p.m. at the Martin Funeral Home Chapel with her nephew Dick Rennels officiating. Interment will be in the Red Hill Cemetery, Hammon, Roger Mills County, Oklahoma under the direction of the Martin Funeral Home of Elk City. Iona Bills Peterson Allison, 92, died March 21, 2008 at Elk City Nursing Home. The daughter of Pitts and Myrtle Bills, her mother died shortly after Iona's birth on March 15, 1910, and she was adopted by Isaac Andrew and Minnie Petrerson, homesteaders in thes Colter community, northwest of Elk City. Iona was the last survivor of her generation in that community. She married Clinton Melvin Allison, a neighbor and schoolmate, when she was 19, and their son was born a year later. Forced off the land by the Dustbowl and the Great Depression, one of her most vivid memories of the Depression was being paid $25. by the federal goverment to shoot each of their starving cows. She was an "Okie" who with her young family drove along Route 66 to California in 1930, where their daughter was born. They returned to Oklahoma in 1941. She and her family again moved to California after the end of World War II in 1946 and returned to Oklahoma for good in 1949. For many of her later years, she managed the family farm almost single-handedly, feeding cattle in far-flung pastures in frigid or torrid weather from her old blue pickup, sleeping with a pistol underr her pillow, and shooting varmints when they came to close to her house. She was among a vanishing bre! ed of gritty, tough pioneer women. She experienced early poverty, personal disappointments in life, and loss of sight and hearing in her last years, but she manaaged her struggles with dignity, gave love to those around her, and was fiercely devoted to her immediate and extended family. She was a faithful, lifeime member of the Church of Christ. Her husband Clinton "Clint," broher Glen Peterson and wife Mattie; brother, Doss Bills; sister, Flossie Myers and husband Charles "Fritz" sister-in-law Claudia Allison, preceded her in death. Left to mourn her are son and daughter-in-law Clinton and Phyllis Allison of Knoxville, Tenn.; and daughter and son-in-law Barbara and Everet Jencks; five grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild; several beloved nieces, nephews and oher loving family members, including special friend and caretaker Jeannie Jobe. The family request memorials in her name be made to the American Diabetes Association. The Elk Citian, Elk City, OK 26-Mar-2008 Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.