Mabel Root

Mabel Miriam Root was born on August 28, 1907, the daughter of Gaston and Luella (Rafter) Hains in Olathe, Kansas. She passed away on Friday, July 26, 2013, at the Clearfield Home in Clearfield, Iowa, at the age of 105.

Mabel grew up in Fontanelle and graduated from Fontanelle High School and then went on to graduate from the University of Northern Iowa with an education degree. Her first teaching job was in Bossman, Montana. On May 29, 1932, she was united in marriage to Elton Abner Root in Fontanelle, Iowa. To this union two children were born: Ernest and Patricia. They lived on the Root family farm north of Fontanelle and she taught country school until 1953 when the family moved to Des Moines where she taught in the Des Moines and West Des Moines public school systems until retiring in 1970.

After retiring she moved back to Fontanelle. She volunteered at the Greenfield Public Library and at the Good Samaritan Society in Fontanelle. She enjoyed cooking, crocheting, playing the piano and especially loved being with her family, whom she sent letters to until she couldn’t write anymore.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Elton Root in 1943; son, Ernest Root in 1973; four sisters, Betty Jean Clemmons, Dorothy Hains, Marybelle Handley and Naomi Murray; brother, Charles Hains in infancy; and granddaughter, Amber Root-Sherman.

She is survived by her daughter, Patricia Ahnen of Des Moines; six grandchildren; numerous great and great great grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

Private family graveside services will be held at the Bryant Cemetery north of Fontanelle.