Irene (Goewey) Bland, 89, died at 10:55 a.m. Monday, Oct. 31, 2005, at Boyd Memorial Hospital in Carrollton. Born in Belleview, Ill., on March 8, 1916, she was the daughter of the late Abram and Lettie Poore Goewey. On May 6, 1933, she married Walter "Snooks" Bland, who survives. They celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary on May 6, 2005. They resided in the Kampsville area until 1943 and then moved to a farm near Eldred. They resided there until 1994, when they moved to Carrollton. She spent two years in Reisch Memorial Nursing Home. She was active in the Eldred Baptist Church for more than 50 years. She was the most loving and dedicated wife, mother and grandmother anyone could ask for. She had a great love for her family as well as for quilting, gardening and baking. Survivors include her husband; two daughters and a son-in-law, Betty Reif of Carrollton, Patsy and Larry Churchman of Carrollton; a son and a daughter-in-law, Dean and JoAnn Bland of Eldred; 10 grandchildren: Debbie (Reif) and Roger Campbell, Robert and Cathy Reif, Rodney and Mary Reif, Darla (Reif) and Robert McPherson, Steven and Julie Bland, Kevin and Lisa Bland, Cindy (Bland) and John Adcock, Alan and Michelle Churchman, Kathy (Churchman) and Brian Schnettgoecke, Vicki (Churchman) and Randall Custer; 21 great-grandchildren and a brother, Marion (wife, Velma) Goewey of Nebo. She was preceded in death by a great-granddaughter; her parents; four brothers, Allen, Earl, Harold and Francis Goewey; and four sisters: Mina Barnes, Mary Davenport, Dorothy Neese and Martha Grammar. Visitation will be from 4 until 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Airsman-Hires Funeral Home in Carrollton. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Eldred Baptist Church with the Rev. Jon Lobos and the Rev. John Hardwick officiating. Burial will follow in Eldred Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Eldred Baptist Church, Boyd Memorial Hospital X-Ray Machine Fund or Reisch Memorial Nursing Home. Condolences may be left online at www.airsman-hires.com.

Obituary, The Telegraph, November 1, 2005.