Zoe Carlson

April 26, 2005

Funeral services for Zoe Carlson, 96, of Paton, Iowa will be 10:30 AM Friday at the Salem United Methodist Church, Paton, Iowa. Interment in the Paton Township Cemetery, Paton, Iowa. Visitation will start at 1:00 PM on Thursday at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson, with family visitation from 6:00- 8:00 PM Thursday evening at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Salem United Methodist Church, Paton, Iowa. Zoe R. Ridenour Carlson, daughter of Stella Ladd Ridenour and Harry F. Ridenour, was born March 18, 1909 at Gowrie, Iowa. At a young age she moved with her parents to Ogden, Iowa, attending school there until the fourth grade, when her parents and she moved to Paton. Zoe attended school at Paton where she graduated from high school in 1926. This was the first class to attend all four high school years in the new Paton Consolidated School building. She worked in the telephone office at Paton after completing high school. On March 27, 1929 she was united in marriage to Carl R. Carlson at the Methodist parsonage in Jefferson. They lived their entire married life farming in the Paton community. Carl and Zoe purchased a farm south of Paton in 1941. After Carl’s death in December 1975 she retired to a home in Paton. They were the parents of two sons, Doyle Dean and Keith Alan. Zoe was a faithful and dedicated member of the Salem United Methodist Church, serving in various church offices as well as the United Methodist Women. She also taught Sunday school classes for over 75 years. Zoe was a member of the Ingleside Club, Garden Club, Greene County Historical Society and several neighborhood clubs. She was also an Avon representative for several years. Music was much a part of her life. Zoe played violin in her high school years as well as piano. She instilled her love of music in her sons at a young age which they have enjoyed and shared throughout their lives. Zoe was an avid flower gardener, finding much joy in growing roses. In December 1984, Zoe was married to Ernest R. Carlson at the Salem United Methodist Church in Paton. They made their home in Paton and enjoyed traveling together. Zoe R. Carlson died April 26, 2005 at the Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson, Iowa. She was 96 years of age. She was preceded in death by her husbands, parents and one brother, Verlin. Those left to cherish the many memories she gave are her sons, Doyle and his wife, Virginia of Paton, IA, Keith and his wife, Jo Ann, of Ankeny, IA; one grandson, Neil Carlson; three granddaughters, Carla Chow and husband, Michael; Zoe Ann Havens and husband, Scott and Michelle Glass and husband, Jim; six great-grandchildren, Jessica, Kady, Dylan, Maggie and Sophia Havens, and Benjamin Glass. Also surviving are many friends and relatives.