03/13/2018
Zelma Louise (Schrader) Beebout was born November 14, 1926, in Marion County, Iowa the daughter of Leonard and Cecil (Kingrey) Schrader.
She was raised in the Red Rock and Monroe, Iowa areas. Zelma graduated from Knoxville High School and then attended night school at Drake University, earning a degree in Education.
On November 11, 1945, Zelma was united in marriage to Keith J. Beebout at the Columbia United Methodist Church. The couple lived in the Columbia area all of their married life.
She loved teaching at the one-room school in Gosport and 2nd grade in Melcher-Dallas for over 30 years prior to her retirement in 1985. Everyone referred to her as their “favorite teacher.”
In her retirement years, Zelma enjoyed reading western romance novels and solving puzzles on her card table. She became a garage sale, thrift store, and auction enthusiast, finding great deals wherever she went. One of the items Zelma avidly looked for was quilts.
She collected and fixed many quilts throughout the years. She loved to Two-Step at all the southern Iowa dances. Her favorite place to go to dances was the Columbia Community Center so her granddaughters could go with her. She cheered at all of her granddaughter’s softball games, school concerts, basketball games, and any other activity they were involved in.
Family gatherings were a very important part of Zelma’s life. There was usually a card game and teasing involved.
Zelma passed away peacefully and found her husband, Keith, on Tuesday, March 13, 2018, at her home, in Columbia, at the age of 91 years.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Keith, and siblings: Howard, Margaret, Ruth, Mildred, and Harry James in infancy.
Those left to cherish Zelma’s memory include her son Jeff and wife Connie Beebout of Columbia; granddaughters, Cristina (Randy) McKinney and Wendy (Dave) Krambeck; her greats: Sydnee, Bridgette, Malorie, and Marcella; siblings: Virgil Schrader, Evelyn Bachman, and Stella Clark; nieces, nephews, many other family members, and friends.
A Funeral Service for Zelma Beebout, age 91 of Columbia, will be held on Monday, March 19, 2018, at the Bybee & Davis Funeral Home at 11:00 a.m.
Burial will follow in the Columbia Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Sunday at Bybee & Davis Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family.