VIVIAN CLAIRE LANNING, eldest daughter of GEORGE W. and EMMA C. LANNING, was born near Alden, Freeborn County, Minnesota, March l0, l876, and departed this life at the home of her parents in Chariton, Iowa, October l0, l924, aged 48 years and 7 months.

In the fall of l885, she moved with her parents to Collins, St. Clair County, Mo. Two years later the family removed to Davis City, Decatur County, Iowa, where VIVIAN grew to womanhood and graduated from the Davis City High School with the class of l897, after which she prepared herself for teaching, but on account of health conditions at that time, decided to change her occupation and went to Yankton, South Dakota, and took up the art of dress making and designing, and after completing the course returned to her home town and opened a shop which she conducted for several years until the family located in Chariton in l908.

For about three years she conducted a shop in Chariton after which she accepted a position with the Women's Shop when it was established and has been with them as designer and alteress ever since until in June, l924, when her health failed, and she was compelled to undergo an operation at the Ottumwa Hospital on July 3. A few weeks later she was removed to her home, it being discovered that her case was serious and beyond medical aid. She made a brave fight for life but bore her suffering without a murmur. Realizing her condition she arranged her worldly affairs and expressed herself as being prepared to meet her Savior.

When twelve years of age, she united with the M.E. Church and lived a consistent Christian life, taking great interest in young people's societies and the choir. She was also a life member of the Rebekah Lodge, and a member of the Security Benefit Association. She was always popular in church and social circles and in her home life was amicable, charitable and self-sacrificing. Her life was devoted to service and love for others.

Those left to mourn her departure are her parents, MR. and MRS. G.W. LANNING, of Chariton; five brothers, BEN W., of Iowa City; GEORGE R., of Russell; HARRY A., of New Orleans, La.; CLAUDE G., of Chariton; J. WILL, of Ottumwa and six sisters, MRS. SIBYL HYDE, of Portland, Ore.; MRS. GENEVIEVE ORDWAY, MRS. DAISY BOSWELL, RUTH, ZULMA and LACEY, all of Chariton.

All of these near ones were present at the funeral except MRS. SIBYL HYDE, who had just returned to her home after a month's visit here and HARRY A., who is in South America and could not be reached.

The funeral was conducted at the M.E. Church on Sunday, October l2, at two o'clock by her Pastor, Rev. Frank Bean, before a large gathering of their relatives and friends, including many from a distance. Besides beautiful selections by the choir, Mrs. Nellie Hoskins rendered a beautiful vocal solo, "O Morning Land", by VIVIAN's own request, they have been classmates in school. The floral offerings were beautiful. The exercises at the Chariton Cemetery, where the remains were laid to rest, were conducted by the local Rebekah Lodge. The sympathy of the entire community goes out to the bereaved ones in their great loss.

Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert "With permission from the Leon Journal Reporter" Sepember 27, 2002

See Vivian Claire Lanning's Funeral Card and the obituary for her sister Lacey.

1880 census shows her father George LANNING 30 b ca 1850 New York Married White Male living in Alden, Freeborn, Minnesota. Use this FREE TRIAL on Ancestry.com to find this person (or another ancestor) on other CENSUS records!

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