Laona 'Onie' (Hendricks) Goater

Laona ‘Onie’ (Hendricks) Goater, 81, of Winterset, Iowa, died Thursday, November 4, 2004, at her home. She is survived by her three step-children, Michael (Annette) Goater of Marion, Iowa; Gayla (Dennis) Detweiler of Solon, Iowa; Richard (Helen) Goater of Goldfield, Iowa; one sister, Margaret (Hendricks) Jones of Winterset, Iowa; five grandsons, Ethan and Seth Detweiler, David, Cole and Clae Goater; one granddaughter, Elizabeth Goater, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; three brothers, William, Walter and Ralph Hendricks; and two sisters, Ethel (Hendricks) Haines and Wilda (Hendricks) Stepp Phillips. Blanche Laona Hendricks was born September 8, 1923 in Madison County, Iowa, the daughter Oliver E. and Blanche L. (Myers) Hendricks. Laona moved from the Winterset area to Des Moines in 1939. She was employed in varied retail work and lived there until 1957. On December 22, 1956 she married Charles L. Goater in New Hampton, Iowa and later moved with his three young children and father to Eagle Grove, Iowa where Charles was transferred by his employer, REA Express. Laona owned and managed Laona’s Cafe in Eagle Grove, Iowa during the 1960’s. She taught cake decorating at the Iowa Central Community College, was a painter and loved to write. In 2001 Laona wrote a book entitled ‘Forever Girl.’ After retirement in 1979 Charles and Laona moved to their summer home on an island in Lake of the Woods, Ontario, Canada, summering there and wintering in Mountain Home, Arkansas. After Charles’ death in 1983, Laona purchased a home on Lake Belle Taine near Nevis, MN. She moved back to her beginnings in Madison County in 2001 where she lived until her death. Born Again to begin serving our Lord Jesus in a new life in 1968 and she holds membership in Grace Baptist Church, Winterset, Iowa. North McDonald Cemetery, Jefferson Township, Madison County, Iowa Visitation: 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. where family will be present to receive friends from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. November 7, 2004 at Ochiltree Funeral Service & Aftercare in Winterset Service: 11:00 a.m., Monday November 8, 2004 at Ochiltree Funeral Service & Aftercare Memorial: Memorials may be directed to Middle River Hospice of Madison County.