Marven Gridley

Marven Gridley, 87 of Creston, IA, passed away Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at the EveryStep Hospice House in Creston. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at Pearson Family Funeral Service & Cremation Center, 809 W. Montgomery Street, Creston, IA 50801. Rev. Tim Maxa of the United Presbyterian Church in Lenox, IA will officiate. Visitation is open to the public Monday, April 12, 2021 from 1-7 PM. The family will receive friends 5-7 PM Monday at the funeral home. Marven will be laid to rest in the Graceland Cemetery, Creston, IA. 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 December 14, 1933 in rural Adair County, IA. He was the son of Carol Arden and Daisy Halcyon (Lucas) Gridley. Marven received his education in Cromwell, IA, 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 Niagra 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 fence and driving wooden posts in 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, Iowa. 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, IA in 1988. In 2016, Marven and Ellen moved to Creston and Ellen preceded Marven in death that same year on 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 and soybeans and raised livestock, mostly cattle and was always proud of his breed diverse herd.

Marven is survived by his children: Tracey (Tom) Gray of Prescott, IA, Michael (Pamela) Gridley of Norwalk, IA and Marceen Miller (significant other, Chad Lynch) of Creston; 6 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; 3 great-grandchildren: Hudson and Briggs Murphy and Avery Stuart; a sister, Frieda Shearer of Des Moines, IA; 4 nieces: Bobbi Allaire, Susan Gridley, Carol Troudt, and Nessa Feltner; and other extended family.

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