Bess Pettycrew

Marjory Bess (LeValley) Pettycrew, 102, of Fort Dodge, formerly of Reno, Nevada, passed away at Tompkins Health Center on Friday, April 16, 2010.

Per her request her body will be cremated and laid to rest beside her husband and son in Reno, Nevada. There will be a private memorial service at a later date.

Bess was born June 28, 1907, in Dayton, Iowa to Lulu (Carr) and Judd LeValley. She was confirmed in the Dayton United Methodist Church. She attended Dayton Community School and graduated from Dayton High School in 1926. She later attended the University of Nebraska where she graduated with a Bachelors degree in education in 1932. He teaching career began in the public school in Ord, Nebraska. After receiving special education, she was invited to the state of Nevada to help begin a kindergarten program in that state. She taught in Wells, Nevada, for a number of years, and later taught in Reno, Nevada, until her retirement in 1973.

On June 8, 1941, she married George Pettycrew in Reno. They had one son, Charles.

Bess was an eighty year member of Eastern Star. She moved to Friendship Haven in 1997.

She was preceded in death by her husband and son; three sisters and one brother.

She is survived by five nephews, Richard Chinburg of Dayton, Iowa, Don (Ardea) Chinburg of Clinton, Iowa, Mark (Kathy) LeValley of Texas, Jon (Norma) Wenkalman of California, and Bob (Arlene) Chapman also of California.

Memorials may be left to the United Methodist Church in Dayton.

Carson - Stapp Funeral Home in Dayton is in charge of the arrangements.