Obituary for Nora Elva Godwin

Nora Elva (Welsh) Godwin of Cedar Rapids, Iowa was born August 28, 1912 and died April 11, 2008. Nora began her life over 95 years ago in Ness County, Kansas as the oldest daughter of Henry Edgar (Ed) Welsh and Dana Agnes (Hogsett) Welsh. Her sister, Telva Fern was born within a year, and the family moved to Oklahoma where their parents managed Ed''s parent''s farms while Nora''s grandfather entered a TB sanitarium. Unfortunately, Ed drowned in 1917, one month after registering for the World War I draft. Nora''s mother moved back to Ness County and began managing the Brownell Hotel. In 1918 she married William Guyer, a widower. The blended family of Elmer Guyer (10), Edith Guyer (8), Nora (6) and Telva (5) matured during the roaring 20s in Ness County. All four children graduated from Brownell High School. Nora began nursing training in 1930, but had to leave as the full weight of the Depression took its toll on her. She worked as an in-home care-giver around Brownell and Wakeeny before moving to Louisiana, Missouri on the shores of the Mississippi River to live with her step-sister, Edith; Edith''s husband, Mick Brady; and the Brady''s young children. While there, she met Harold Joseph (Bud) Godwin whom she married July 17, 1938. The newlyweds initially ran a grocery store in Louisiana, Missouri, but moved to Ness City, Kansas after Bud''s rheumatism made dry, western Kansas desirable. Beginning in 1940, Bud worked in Fritzlers'' Grocery store. Harold Norman Godwin was born in 1941 followed by Marilyn Lea (Godwin) King in 1945. After a prolonged illness, Bud died in 1956, and the family depended on his Social Security survivor''s benefits to supplement Nora''s salary as a nurse''s aide in the Ransom Nursing Home. In 1962 Nora was able to complete her Licensed Practical Nursing program, and she worked in the Ness County Hospital until retiring in 1977. She continued to live in Ness City until 1999, when she went to Centerville, Iowa to be near Marilyn''s family. In the 21st Century, Nora survived emergency stomach surgery January 1, 2000 (during the Y2K event); won the 2001 quilting contest in Centerville with her "All State''s Quilt" that was a special gift to Jennifer Hayes, her granddaughter; and survived a serious heart attack in December 2005. She then moved to Garnett Place in Cedar Rapids in October, 2006 when Marilyn and her husband, Bob, retired and moved to be near most of their children and grandchildren. Nora suffered several more heart attacks before finally succumbing to her increasingly damaged heart. The week she died Nora was able to watch her beloved KU Jayhawks win the NCAA Basketball Tournament and her equally loved Kansas City Royals lead the American league. Nora was preceded in death by her husband, parents, step-sister Edith Brady and step-brother Elmer Guyer. She is survived by her sister Telva Fern (Welsh) Everett Gruwell, her son Harold and his wife Judy (Ricketts) Godwin, her daughter Marilyn and husband Robert King; five granddaughters, seven great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Her remains will be cremated and interment will be in the Vansberg Cemetery near Brownell. A Memorial Celebration of her life will be held at a later date as yet not determined. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to either the United Methodist Church of Ness City, Kansas or Hospice of Mercy of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Online condolences may be left for the Godwin family by clicking on ''Sign Guestbook'' below.