Nora Lee Ingle
May 20, 1926 — March 6, 2022
Nora Lee Sherwood was born May 20, 1926, to John W. Sherwood & Effie Haines Sherwood in Knoxville, Iowa. She was the 9th of 10 children. She grew up on the family farm near Pershing, rural Marion County Iowa. She attended the neighborhood school, Vigilance, 1st - 8th grades. Her first paid assignment was when she received 25 cents in 6th grade for her submission to the Women's Christian Temperance Union, "Why One Should Not Drink Alcoholic Beverages." Because there were no school buses, her parents rented a room in Knoxville so their 13 year old could attend high school. Nora Lee then returned home for the weekends. She graduated in 1943 at age 16 from Knoxville High School. While in school, she traded work with another student - he did her math, she wrote his essays. Not all seniors graduated. Because it was wartime, some young men joined the military while still in school. Two classmates, after enlisting, decided to kiss the teacher, which got them promptly expelled.
Nora Lee was introduced to Vern by a neighbor, Jack Viers. Vern did not exhibit very many social skills. Nora Lee had to educate him on dating etiquette. He got the message when she was with someone else. At age 17 she had all her teeth pulled. Her first job was at the overall factory, where she saved wages to buy her first set of dentures. She was so afraid Vern wouldn't like her if he saw her without teeth!
Nora Lee rode the train to Ft. Hood, Texas to marry Vern while he was in the service. They married March 10, 1945 at 10:45 pm. She lived with a Southern family, working as their maid until Vern was deployed. She then returned to Marion County waiting for his return from Hawaii. They began housekeeping in Knoxville, living in a government issued trailer until moving into a small apartment when Suzanne arrived in 1947. In 1949, Vern, Nora Lee and Suzanne moved to the Ingle farm, in rural Swan. They lived in a big 125 year old farmhouse, with no running water, no central heat, very little electricity and mice. Lots of mice. And, so began her journey as a farm wife. Son Ned came along in 1950; and David in 1954. Running water was brought into the house along with baby chicks, orphaned lambs and an occasional newborn calf. But never a bathroom or hot water. Daughter Cindy finished the brood in 1955. Nora Lee and Vern traded their path for a bath in 1966 when they purchased the Ingle farm, tore down the old farmhouse and built a modern 3-bedroom ranch home. Her love of cooking and entertaining was evident in her frequent dinner parties, brunches and tea parties, first in the basement, then in the garage converted to the "Victorian Room".
Nora Lee had no formal education but authored 3 books, "Depression Pie", "Nostalgia", and "KNIA Something Special Cookbook With Soul Food". She wrote weekly newspaper columns, had a monthly newsletter, was the editor of the Marion County News and a feature writer for the Altoona Herald. During her retirement years, she presented a slide show of her growing up years to elementary schools and senior centers.
Nora Lee was buried in baptism in 1945 in the Des Moines River. She was a faithful member of the Pleasant Hill church of Christ & served the church as an Elder's wife for over 35 years. Her Bible is worn from her reading & studying it daily. She often included Bible verses in her cards and letters she sent.
After Vern passed away in 2007 (62 years of marriage) she spent her final years enjoying her 13 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandson in Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, and California. She was able to finish her days, living with family and single-handedly keeping the Post Office open.
Those preceding her in death were her parents; her siblings, J. Wesley, Kermit, Robert & Billee Sherwood, Martha Shivvers, and Mary Mae Jordan; her husband Vern; and her son, Ned, just one month ago. Her survivors include her sister: Frances Kirkwood, Knoxville; her children: Suzanne (Bruce), Pleasant Hill, IA, David (Joyce) Ingle, Mitchellville, Cynthia (Mark) Morris, Pleasant Hill, MO; 13 precious grandchildren: Timothy (Jami) Harvey & their children Grace, Emily, Taylor & Joseph, Pleasant Hill, IA; Matthew (Kelly) Harvey & their children Blake, Alexandria, Colton, Dylan & Easton, Glen Carbon, IL; Ginger (Marc) Hermon & their children Nicholas (Kayley), Indianola; Madison (Ayden) Twaddell and great-great-grandson, Theo, Indianola; Oshea & Gabriel, Carlisle; Jason (Robin) Ingle & sons Zachary & Zane, Indianola; Jarrod (Sharon) & children Sofia & Derek of Anaheim, CA; Joshua of Houston, TX; Randy (Theresa) & their children Brandon (Lupe) serving in the military in the South, & Kinnick, Mitchellville; Ryan (Jamie) & children, Elijah, Rylee, Taylor & Patrick, Mitchellville; Rodney (Alena) & their children Brenna, Theron, Hugh, & Keturah, Pleasant Hill, IA; Jeremiah (Michelle) Morris & their children Sarah, Ashton & Natalie of Pleasant Hill, MO; Benjamin (Emily) Morris & their children Paige & Reese, Ozark, MO; Thaddeus (JoAnna) Morris & their children Nathanael & Eliza, Ozark, MO; and Joel (Aubrey) Morris & their children Zoie & Mackenzie, of Holt, MO.
The family suggests memorials may be made to the Pleasant Hill Church of Christ or to Iowa Public Television.
Nora Lee was introduced to Vern by a neighbor, Jack Viers. Vern did not exhibit very many social skills. Nora Lee had to educate him on dating etiquette. He got the message when she was with someone else. At age 17 she had all her teeth pulled. Her first job was at the overall factory, where she saved wages to buy her first set of dentures. She was so afraid Vern wouldn't like her if he saw her without teeth!
Nora Lee rode the train to Ft. Hood, Texas to marry Vern while he was in the service. They married March 10, 1945 at 10:45 pm. She lived with a Southern family, working as their maid until Vern was deployed. She then returned to Marion County waiting for his return from Hawaii. They began housekeeping in Knoxville, living in a government issued trailer until moving into a small apartment when Suzanne arrived in 1947. In 1949, Vern, Nora Lee and Suzanne moved to the Ingle farm, in rural Swan. They lived in a big 125 year old farmhouse, with no running water, no central heat, very little electricity and mice. Lots of mice. And, so began her journey as a farm wife. Son Ned came along in 1950; and David in 1954. Running water was brought into the house along with baby chicks, orphaned lambs and an occasional newborn calf. But never a bathroom or hot water. Daughter Cindy finished the brood in 1955. Nora Lee and Vern traded their path for a bath in 1966 when they purchased the Ingle farm, tore down the old farmhouse and built a modern 3-bedroom ranch home. Her love of cooking and entertaining was evident in her frequent dinner parties, brunches and tea parties, first in the basement, then in the garage converted to the "Victorian Room".
Nora Lee had no formal education but authored 3 books, "Depression Pie", "Nostalgia", and "KNIA Something Special Cookbook With Soul Food". She wrote weekly newspaper columns, had a monthly newsletter, was the editor of the Marion County News and a feature writer for the Altoona Herald. During her retirement years, she presented a slide show of her growing up years to elementary schools and senior centers.
Nora Lee was buried in baptism in 1945 in the Des Moines River. She was a faithful member of the Pleasant Hill church of Christ & served the church as an Elder's wife for over 35 years. Her Bible is worn from her reading & studying it daily. She often included Bible verses in her cards and letters she sent.
After Vern passed away in 2007 (62 years of marriage) she spent her final years enjoying her 13 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandson in Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, and California. She was able to finish her days, living with family and single-handedly keeping the Post Office open.
Those preceding her in death were her parents; her siblings, J. Wesley, Kermit, Robert & Billee Sherwood, Martha Shivvers, and Mary Mae Jordan; her husband Vern; and her son, Ned, just one month ago. Her survivors include her sister: Frances Kirkwood, Knoxville; her children: Suzanne (Bruce), Pleasant Hill, IA, David (Joyce) Ingle, Mitchellville, Cynthia (Mark) Morris, Pleasant Hill, MO; 13 precious grandchildren: Timothy (Jami) Harvey & their children Grace, Emily, Taylor & Joseph, Pleasant Hill, IA; Matthew (Kelly) Harvey & their children Blake, Alexandria, Colton, Dylan & Easton, Glen Carbon, IL; Ginger (Marc) Hermon & their children Nicholas (Kayley), Indianola; Madison (Ayden) Twaddell and great-great-grandson, Theo, Indianola; Oshea & Gabriel, Carlisle; Jason (Robin) Ingle & sons Zachary & Zane, Indianola; Jarrod (Sharon) & children Sofia & Derek of Anaheim, CA; Joshua of Houston, TX; Randy (Theresa) & their children Brandon (Lupe) serving in the military in the South, & Kinnick, Mitchellville; Ryan (Jamie) & children, Elijah, Rylee, Taylor & Patrick, Mitchellville; Rodney (Alena) & their children Brenna, Theron, Hugh, & Keturah, Pleasant Hill, IA; Jeremiah (Michelle) Morris & their children Sarah, Ashton & Natalie of Pleasant Hill, MO; Benjamin (Emily) Morris & their children Paige & Reese, Ozark, MO; Thaddeus (JoAnna) Morris & their children Nathanael & Eliza, Ozark, MO; and Joel (Aubrey) Morris & their children Zoie & Mackenzie, of Holt, MO.
The family suggests memorials may be made to the Pleasant Hill Church of Christ or to Iowa Public Television.
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