Frances Fordyce

Frances Bell Fordyce, 87 of the Woodlands, Meth-Wick Community, Cedar Rapids, formerly of Mount Vernon, died Sunday evening February 6, 2005 in her home from a long illness. Services 1:30 p.m., Friday, at the United Methodist Church, Mount Vernon, by the Rev. Dr. Frank Seydel. Friends may call Thursday, from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., at Morgan Funeral and Cremation Choices, Mount Vernon Chapel and after 12:30 Friday at the church. Burial Mount Vernon Memorial Cemetery. Frances Bell Fordyce was born March 12, 1917 in rural Delaware County near Earlville, Iowa, the third and last surviving of four children born to Frank E. Bell and Rose Palmer Bell. She graduated from Oneida Consolidated School and from Cornell College. She was married to Jay A. Fordyce of Mount Vernon, at Earlville, June 8, 1939. The couple lived in Mount Vernon, Iowa, for forty-seven years and moved to Meth-Wick Community, Cedar Rapids, in May of 1986. Mr. Fordyce died there in October of that year. Frances was a homemaker and community volunteer. She was a member of the United Methodist Church, where she was active in many organizations and was a past president of the United Methodist Women. She taught a Bible class in the local care center for some years and helped with other activities there. She was a forty-four year member of Entre Nous Book Review Club (in Mount Vernon), the May Flower Society of Iowa, a charter member and telephone activator of Common Cause, a member of Amnesty International for whom she was a Freedom Writer and a volunteer in phases of life at Meth-Wick Manor. Surviving Frances are two sons: Edward J. (Karen) and Richard L., both of Mount Vernon and three grand-daughters, Lorrie Dahlman (Brad) of Apple Valley, Minnesota, Shelly Brinkmann (Adam) of Burnsville, Minnesota, and Emily Joldersma (Eric) of Gauchy, France. Also surviving are six great grandsons, one great granddaughter, and nephews and nieces and their children. Memorials may be directed to the Endowment Fund of the United Methodist Church, 304 First Street West, Mount Vernon, Iowa, 52314 or to the Meth-Wick Community, 1224 13th Street N.W., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 52405.