Marven Gridley

Marven Gridley, 87, of Creston passed away Wednesday, April 7, 2021, at EveryStep Hospice House in Creston. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 13, 2021, at Pearson Family Funeral Service and Cremation Center, 809 W. Montgomery St. in Creston. Rev. Tim Maxa of the United Presbyterian Church in Lenox will officiate.

Visitation is open to the public 1 to 7 p.m. Monday, April 12, 2021, with family receiving friends 5 to 7 p.m. Marven will be laid to rest in Graceland Cemetery in Creston

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family, to be determined. Memories and condolences for the family may be shared online at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.

Marven Albert Gridley was born Dec. 14, 1933, in rural Adair County, the son of Carol Arden and Daisy Halcyon (Lucas) Gridley. Marven received his education in Cromwell, graduating with the Class of 1952.

Marven had a great sense of adventure. After graduation, Marven and his friend Frank McCaulley drove together to New York to pickup Frank’s sister and bring her back to Iowa. On their way, the two guys visited Niagara Falls, but traveled with only $5, a 5-gallon gas can, a garden hose and a bumper jack.

As a young man, Marven performed various tasks to earn money. Among those were building fences and driving wooden posts by hand. He also hand-dug tile and graves while working for Franklin Kinkade. Marven was always tinkering with equipment and vehicles to increase performance, capacity or productivity as a younger man.

On March 1, 1958, Marven was united in marriage to Ellen Lucille Fitzgerald in Greenfield. Three children were born to bless this union: Tracey, Michael and Marceen. The family moved often and lived in the Corning area until 1975. They lived in the Lenox area until moving to Prescott in 1988.

In 2016, Marven and Ellen moved to Creston, where Ellen preceded Marven in death that same year, April 10, 2016.

Marven had a life-long passion for farming. He farmed with his family most of his life in the Prescott, Lenox, Kent, Corning, Murray and Thayer areas. He grew corn, soybeans, raised livestock — mostly cattle — and was always proud of his breed diverse herd.

Marven is survived by his children: Tracey (Tom) Gray of Prescott, Michael (Pamela) Gridley of Norwalk and Marceen Miller (significant other, Chad Lynch) of Creston; six grandchildren: Maggie Stuart of Creston, Jenny Gray (Fiance, George Scroggie) of Creston, Josie Gray of Lenox, Abagayle Miller, Lucas Lynch and Rheanna Lynch, all of Creston; three great-grandchildren: Hudson, Briggs Murphy and Avery Stuart; a sister Frieda Shearer of Des Moines; four nieces: Bobbi Allaire, Susan Gridley, Carol Troudt and Nessa Feltner; other extended family.

Marven was preceded in death by his wife Ellen and his parents.