Cleo L. Duff

Cleo Lorraine (Eason) Duff of Scranton celebrated her 89th birthday with all the trimmings June 8th at Thomas Rest Haven in Coon Rapids and peacefully passed away on Sunday, June 19, 2016 surrounded by her family. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, June 24, 2016 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jefferson with Fr. Jeff Schleisman as Celebrant. Organist for the Mass will be Lois Last, Cantor will be Amy Roberts, and Soloist will be Bob Reck. Lector for the Mass will be Jan Morlan. Gift bearers will be Cleo’s granddaughters. Mass servers will be Jack Moore and Dick Davis. Eucharistic Ministers will be Jan Morlan and Ann Gingery. Casket bearers will be Cleo’s grandsons. Burial will be in the Scranton Township Cemetery Friends may call at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Scranton after 3:30 P.M. on Thursday where there will be a Rosary at 4:00 P.M. and a Christian Wake Service at 6:30 P.M. The casket will be moved to the church at 9:30 A.M. on Friday where visitation will resume until the time of service. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Scranton and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com Before suffering a stroke in 2013, Cleo was an active member of the Carroll-Greene County Retired Teachers, the Alphian Society, was co-founder and lifetime member of the Scranton Varceis Club and thoroughly enjoyed participating in their annual luncheon. She was an active member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Scranton until its closing. She served as Eucharistic Minister, Lector, and served on the St. Paul’s Rosary Sodality. She was also a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. Cleo was born on June 8, 1927 in Scranton, Iowa to Ray and Claire (Barton) Eason and had three older brothers- Lowell, Vernon “Sime”, and Keith “Jack”, and a younger sister, Delores (Peg) Subbert. She graduated as salutatorian from Scranton high school in 1945, where she was involved in band, theatre and was homecoming queen. She attended Simpson College and was a member of Phi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women, later receiving the Golden Arrow indicating 50 years of membership. Duane Duff and Cleo were high school sweethearts and wed June 30th, 1948 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church and lived on the family farm for 58 years, when she moved to town after his passing. A lifelong educator, she received her B.A. degree from Drake University in 1970, teaching an array of classes for over 30 years - preschool, first grade, substitute, and elementary remedial reading. She created a Magic Forest in her room, an annual Poetry Program and Recipes for Reading, all to encourage children to love reading. She was a State of Iowa Speech judge, regularly attended the Iowa Reading Convention, member of Iowa State Education Assoc., Iowa Reading Assoc., and the National Education Assoc. As a 4-H member, 4-H leader and an elected Greene County Council Board member, Cleo was recognized and presented with the 1988 4-H Alumni Award for her continued support of 4-H in Greene County. She was also active as a Girl Scout leader and co-coordinator of the local day camps and banquets. Cleo is survived by seven children: Debbie(Tom) Powell, Katy,TX; Dixie(Jim)Moore, Waterloo,IA; Darla Cline, Scranton,IA; Dannae McReynolds, Denver,CO; Deanna(Bruce)Strawn, Katy,TX; Doug Duff, Scranton,IA; Deirdre(Terry)Allen, Grand Junction,CO; 20 grandchildren; 27 great grandchildren ~ which equaled a lifetime of travel, plenty of “jingle jangle”, adventures, and lots of “Grandma Duff” stories!! She loved to collect souvenirs, angels, and autographs ~ and was always just a phone call away. She is also survived by her sister, Peg Subbert, several nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by baby Dennis Delane, husband Duane, her parents, and brothers. May the bright lights of her eyes shine into eternity.