Clara Louise Gourd, born June 28, 1931, at home, to Anna and Harold J. Egbert Sr., Passed away quite peacefully at Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines, IA. on
February 18, 2025. She lived to the age of 93y, 7m, 21d. Her mother wrote a little
note to her titled, “Dear Louise,” this precious little snippet of love from her very
early days will be available to view at her services on Saturday, March 8, 2025, The First Church of God, 4201 East Douglas Ave. in D.M. IA will host, as family, friends and acquaintances gather for Visitation at 1PM, Memorial Services at 2PM, and a dinner following them in the Fellowship Hall.
Preceding her in death were her Parents, love of her life, Husband, Clarence.
In-Laws~ Byron & Catherine Gourd; Siblings~ Joe, Leonard, Patty & Lucille and
their spouses; Brothers-In-Laws~ Orrin, Orville, Bernard, Leon, Stanley & Weldon
and their spouses and Great Grand Daughter, Anna Louise.
Surviving Louise are Son, David (Rita) Gourd Sr.; Grandsons~ David Jr., Charles,
Robert & Eric; Daughter, Kathy (Steve)Merryfield; Granddaughters~ Heather (Jeff) Sinnwell, Stephanie (Steven) Merryfield, & Amy (Jeffery) Merryfield. Eight surviving Great Grandchildren ~. Melissa, Zane, Kobe, Gage, Taylor, Levi, Jordan & Veda. One Sister ~Donna Ludlow; One Brother-In-Law, Chuck Gourd; and One Sister-In-Law, Sandy Egbert. There are many cousins across the country who share in the relief that her suffering was not long standing, and joy at the blessed re-uniting of spirit with her husband and family, which she missed so dearly.
She was the oldest of 6 children, attending small, southern Iowa 1-2 room schools Bunker Hill, from 5yrs to 6th grade, then to Pleasant Hill, where she often fondly recalled a teacher she had, Pearl Evans. To this day, we have an apron this teacher made for her. Moving ahead in her studies, she attended Corydon High School, graduating in 1950, 2 of her most cherish friends from then are still with us, Cleo and Barbara.
Shortly after graduating, she came to Des Moines, and found placement as a
telephone operator at the time called Northwestern Bell Telephone the building
still stands. Her highlight…talking to Ernest Tubb! She worked there about 2 years.
In 1952, she married a mechanic, musician, and Rock Island Railroad employee,
Clarence Gourd. They lived for a while at what we called the acreages, east of
the city limits, (before Altoona and Pleasant Hill went through their expansions),
by the time Clarence had to take a job transfer to the Alden/ IA Falls area, they
had 2 young children. While they were young, another transfer was to take
place, the children retained fond memories of that place in time…. Luna moths at the Laundromat, a swinging/suspension bridge (near Ellsworth College and downtown
IA Falls), The Sorensen’s, playing “George, Pull Yourself Together “at Thanksgiving,
Going to the movie house in the park by The Falls at Alden, The Harms Family,
neighbors across the road, Blackie, the cocker spaniel…and her demise, Leo Greco,
an accordion player we heard at the neighbors down the road east of our place.
The armadillo! …that dad ran over and yet it just unrolled and waddled away,
wild sled rides, The Erickson’s, and Brian crashing onto the cave steps…. the ride
in the back seat with him to the hospital for stitches.
Yes, the last transfer was back to Des Moines, the final one, the house they
bought is still home today. And a whole lifetime of more memories!
Louise was a housewife, mother, friend. Doing whatever she could to assist in the household, over the years, she sold Tupperware, Judy Lee Jewels, Tri-Chem Paints, Sarah Coventry, Home Interiors, Mary Kay Make- Up, Amway. She was a waitress at The Younkers Tea room, and a picture in the paper! The Latin King, and met Charles Grassley, who she deemed just “the most decent guy.” She served at the Consistory & The Elbon Club. She helped friends at their little store at East Searle and Jefferson, helped Glenn and Mary Newell with office work at Glenn’s Reel Repair, still in business today, now at East 9th. She had a desire to stop and say hi recently, so we did. She drove for Prairie Queen Foods/Decker’s Catering trucks, was secretary for the newly formed DM JR MISS Softball Association back in the day, and a first-rate housekeeper and caregiver for many families for many years before “retiring” at 80-82.
In all of this, she found joy and made friends by the score, helped above measure and duty, remained mother, wife, sister, aunt, and daughter fully and proudly. She engaged in all her responsibilities~ chosen and those stumbled upon alike. It would seem the most enjoyment,
and lasting memories she had was when traveling with her husband and brother-in –law, as they played their way across Iowa, the “country” (Washington DC), and the “world”
(England). Here, in Iowa, she logged miles and miles on a couple cars, in all types of weather and crazy schedules, yet enjoyed her “role” as Navigator/Chauffeur/P.R. Gal for Gene and Weldon. While she was tough, (we believe to protect her heart) …. she was devoted to family and friends alike. We admire her both in life, as she showed what one person could truly accomplish for others ~thus feeding herself~ but in her passing, that WE may begin to appreciate the wonders of the world around us, and the people in it~ if only we make the time for them…. SHE DID, she will not only be missed, but she will also be a tough act to follow.
Suggested Memorial Contributions: Iowa Genealogical Society of Iowa; Fiddler’s Association of Iowa; Iowa State Fair- Pioneer Hall Restoration Fund; The Czech/ Slovak Museum in Cedar Rapids; Taylor House Hospice: Living History Farms; or to the family for repairs and restoring Bunker Hill School.
