Noel Duane Hitt Humeston

Noel Duane Hitt, 88, of rural Humeston, died Aug. 23, 2014, at his home.

Services were 2 p.m., Friday, Aug. 29, at Fielding Funeral Home, Chariton. Pastor Charlie Coffey and Pastor Dennis St. Lawrence officiated.

Noel Duane Hitt, son of Mary Jewel (Chapman) and Walter Teddy Hitt, was born Sept. 8, 1925, on a farm in Franklin Township, Clarke County, and spent his early years in that area.

As a young man, he attended Goshen Baptist Church.

On June 29, 1947, Duane married Reva Jean Snook at the First Baptist Church in Chariton.

Duane attended Goshen School, and learned carpentry from his father. He attended Derby High School.

When he was 17, his family moved from their farm near Derby to a farm near LeRoy, where he helped his father farm.

After their marriage in 1947, Duane and Reva moved to Omaha, Neb., so Reva could finish college, and Duane drove a truck. He drove for Fairmont Foods and Coffee’s Transfer for about a year.

In August 1948, they moved back to Iowa, and Duane started farming and doing carpentry work. He continued farming and doing carpentry work throughout his life, only retiring from farming about six years ago.

Duane attended Smyrna Friends Church.

Duane is survived by his wife Reva Hitt of rural Humeston; children, David (Kathy) Hitt of Woodburn, Steve (Kathy) Hitt of Weldon, Jim Hitt of Woodburn, Beth (Joe) Stearns of Lacona, Sheryl (Ray) Powders, Carol (Dan) Jelsma of Osceola, Carolyn (Tim) Stroup of Leon, Beverly (Norman) Skinner of Osceola and Walter (Monica) Hitt of Derby; sister Marilyn Watts of Chariton; brother-in-law Don (Katherine) Snook of Westport, Conn.; grandchildren, Lea Ann (Larry) Kirscher of Osceola, Kristi (James) Shelton of Derby, Jeff Hitt of West Des Moines, Marti (Bobbie) Hitt of Lucas, Nick (Stephanie) Hitt of LeRoy, Jason (Suzie) Hitt of Derby, Tom and Revae Hitt of Woodburn, Joey (Abi) Stearns of Lihue, Hawaii, Michelle (Bob) Anderson of Anita, Rachel (Mark) Costello of Imogene, Rebekah (Kelsey) Jacob of Ames, Tim (Krisdyn) Stearns of Ames, Ernest and Peter Stearns of Lacona, Adam (Traci) Crabb of Des Moines, Jeremiah Crabb of Denver, Colo., Angela (Fred) Rothfus of Des Moines, Travis (Heather) Jelsma of Adel, Amy Jelsma of Osceola, Merry and J.J. Stroup of Leon, Jessi (Jesse) Jones of Des Moines, Jim (Sarah) Skinner of Greencastle, Pa., Anne (Jerry) Yonker of Osceola, John Skinner of Osceola and Braden and Brooke Hitt of Derby; 36 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Duane was preceded in death by his parents.