Twyla Rae Moody

Sibley, IA Twyla Moody, age 88 formerly of Sibley, IA was led into the loving arms of Jesus Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at the Rehabilitation Center of Hampton in Hampton, IA. Family and friends will gather to celebrate her life on Monday, February 24, 2014, at 10:30 a.m., at the First Presbyterian Church in Sibley, Iowa, with Pastor Terry Simm and Assistant Pastor Brian Schafer officiating. Burial will follow at Holman Township Cemetery at Sibley. Visitation will be Sunday, February 23rd from 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. with the family present at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley. Twyla Rae Moody was born on May 16, 1925, to Ray Sidney and Lillian Ann (Meyer) Allard-Klaassen, in Ocheyedan, Iowa. She grew up in Sibley, Iowa, where she attended school, before moving to San Diego, California, where she received her GED. She was married for a brief time to Michael Valenski, and was blessed with the birth of a son. Following their divorce, she returned to Sibley, where she met and fell in love with Robert Harold Moody. They married on February 16, 1950, in Omaha, Nebraska. Through the course of just over 33 years together, their family of seven children was raised in Ashton and Sibley, Iowa. Twyla kept busy with her household and childrens activities, serving at church, singing in the choir and a ladies trio, as well as working as a waitress and in retail sales, participating in community theater and enjoying various hobbies, including reading, knitting, shopping, walking, camping and spending time with family and friends. Following the loss of Bob in 1983, Twyla found strength in her faith and joy in the company of her family and friends. She later made trips across the country with her special companion, Craven Kleve, prior to his declining health and passing in 2009. In January 2011, she made the move to Hampton, Iowa, where she lived in assisted living prior to a nursing facility, and in July 2013, she was transferred to the memory unit at the Rehabilitation Center of Hampton, where she died peacefully of complications related to Alzheimers disease. Left to cherish her memory are her children, Michael (Janet) Moody of Owings, MD, Gregory Moody of W. Valley City, UT, Marcia Thiele of Sibley, IA, Roberta (Brian) Stevens of Hampton, IA, Kristi (Ronald) Liechty of Cypress, TX, Mark (Frances) Moody of Schuyler, VA, and Lisa (Brent) Rupiper of Richfield, MN; her sisters, Vera (Kenneth) Eberline of George, IA, and Rachel Graber of Sioux Falls, SD; her grandchildren, Robin (J.J.) Johnson, Ace (Kelly) Moody, Trinity (Thomas) Metcalf, Angela Moody, John Moody, Brad Thiele, Ryan Thiele, Douglas (Megan) Stevens, Brooke (Jeffrey Vollmer) Stevens, Jonathan (Rayna Quinn) Liechty, Sarah Liechty, Melissa (Brent) Miller, Benjamin Moody, Luke Rupiper, Amanda (Juan) Flores, Marie Rupiper; her great-grandchildren, Allyson Moody, Alexander Metcalf, Dylan Metcalf, Skyler Metcalf, Brianna Metcalf, Jeremy Moody, Andrew Moody, Danielle Moody, Brooklyn Moody, Caleb Stevens, Ashley Stevens, Abby Simmang, and Olivia Miller; her sister-in-law, Olive Whitehead; her dear cousin, Pat Holtby, and many loving nieces, nephews and wonderful friends. She was preceded in death by her husbands, one stillborn son, Martin, her parents, her step-father, Fred Klaassen, her precious Aunt Ruth (Allard) Gronewold, her father and mother-in-law, Roy and Louise (Ebert) Moody, sisters and brothers-in-law, Marvin Graber, Arthur & Sylva Melius, John & Frances Moody & Avis Moody, Ken & Helen Daby & Leland Hughes & Virgil Richardson, John Whitehead, Merton & Louise Moody; and several other extended family members and cherished friends to welcome her home.