Grace Lorena Connell died peacefully at Edencrest at Riverwoods Assisted Living Facility, Des Moines, Iowa on August 25, 2023, at the age of 101. Grace was born in Des Moines, Iowa in the year 1921.
Grace married her first husband, Alvin Raymond Waychoff, in 1937. Alvin was killed during World War II on January 23, 1945, leaving Grace a widow with three children. In 1954, she married her second husband, Clark Loveland Connell.
Grace was a devoted homemaker; a talented cook, baker, seamstress; a voracious reader; a longtime member of school PTAs; a member of Weight Watchers for several years; an Election Precinct Captain for many years and belonged to several groups of card players throughout her life. After her children were married, she worked part-time for American Federal Savings and Loan, Des Moines, Iowa.
Those cherishing her memory are her children; daughters: Linda Sue Miles, and Marilyn Dee Arnold; son: Clark Lewis Connell; sister: Lucille Summy; six grandchildren: Kyla Findley Cox (Brett), John Findley (Marina), Charlotte Findley, Sam Waychoff, Jennifer Waychoff Keesey and Angela Arnold Robbins (Darren); fourteen great-grandchildren; nine great-great grandchildren; one great-great-great grandchild; and many generations of nieces, nephews, cousins, as well as a host of neighbors and friends. Grace took pride that there were six generations of females in the family still living.
Grace was preceded in death by her parents Charles and Viola Anais (Boudinot) Chapman; brothers: Leonard Chapman, Walter Chapman, Irvin Chapman, Wilbur Chapman; her sisters: Olive Chapman, E. Elizabeth Chapman (Pearson-Newburgh); husbands: Alvin Raymond Waychoff and Clark Loveland Connell; and son: Larry Ray Waychoff.
A visitation will be held Friday, September 15th, 2023, from 5:30 pm-7:00 pm, with a Memorial Service to follow at 7:00 pm, at Merle Hay Funeral Home, 4400 Merle Hay Rd, Des Moines, Iowa.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Des Moines Seventh Day Adventist Church, 2317 Watrous Ave, Des Moines, Iowa 50321 or the Des Moines Animal Rescue League, 5452 NE 22nd St, Des Moines, Iowa 50313.
Grace lived her life full of love, integrity, and laughter, always ready to share a joke.
