L. Prior

Leona Mabel Miller Prior passed away Tuesday, July 17, 2007 at 7:30 a.m. in the Sartori Memorial Hospital. Leona Mabel Miller Prior was born to Walter B. Miller and Lulu Myrtle Hazlett Miller on October 5th 1915, in a country home in Osceola, Iowa. She went to a country school for eight years and graduated from Osceola High School with a Normal Training degree. She taught in a country school for two years and then attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls where she won, in 1936, the title of Beauty Queen. She taught in the Primary Department at Leon, Iowa. Mabel met the love of her life, Homer F. Prior and they were married June 20, 1937 in Osceola, Iowa. They soon started their family of four daughters and a son. Mabel was Homer's secretary for his business, the Standard Vending Company of Cedar Falls. She took over running the business during WWII for about 18 months while Homer was in the Army. She was home every noon to prepare a hot lunch for her children. She and Homer later became the owners of the Prior Gift Shoppe on College Hill. Mabel had many achievements in her life. She was the president of the PTA for both Lincoln and Campus Schools, and the Vice President of Cedar Falls PTA Council. She served as President, and a member of Soroptimist Club, Floral Design, Waterloo Gardens Floral Study and Circles of the First Methodist Church. She was the Primary Dept Chairman for 15 years, and the founding member of the Boardman Boosters. She was also a nationally accredited flower show judge, and designer and landscape critic. Mabel was a member of the Horticulture Dept of Iowa. She had been Board Chairman of Woman's Club of Cedar Falls and held other offices including Find Arts President. She is a lifetime member of the National Federated Gardens. This past April, Mabel received the Cedar Valley Mayors Volunteer Award. Mabel enjoyed sharing her talents through teaching, lectures of Horticulture, floral design, and nature. She loved music and played the piano. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, and embroidery. Mabel had many friends and was close to her family. She said, "I have felt the joys of achievement, the integrity of a profession. I have put forth my greatest effort to achieve these goals; in business, for my country and for my God." Mabel was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Claudia; her husband, Homer; her brother, Claude "Harold" Miller; and sister-in-law, Nina Knoll Miller. She is survived by three daughters and one son: Ruth (Ed) Swartz of San Jose, California; Marna Lou (George) Xanos of Ogden, Utah; Barbara (Steven) Kent of Fort Worth, Texas; James Walter (Joyce) Prior of Salt Lake City, Utah; eight grandchildren, Rob Swartz, Steven (Myrna) Swartz, Scott (Suzanne) Swartz, Nicole Paul) Schmutz, Leslie (Steven)Goodman, Kathleen (KC) Kent, Derek Colville Prior and James Mackenzie Prior; nine great-grandchildren, Alexa Nicole Goodman, Spencer Wayne Goodman, Sydney Jean Goodman, Thomas Steven Goodman, Samantha Swartz, Tyler Swartz, Annabella Ruth Swartz, Paige Florence Swartz and Scott Thomas Schmutz. Mabel was a great woman and will be missed by her family and all those who loved her.