Aunt Irene by Darrell McLain
Irena Catherine Reynolds was born September 27, 1896 in Allerton, Wayne County, IA. She was the eleventh and last child born to Oliver Hazard Perry and Irena Catherine [Allen] Reynolds.
She was united in marriage to John Lester Akes in 1917. In the first year of their marriage, John was drafted into the army and served in Europe during World War I. While in combat he was involved in a poison gas attack and suffered from this disability for the rest of his life.
One of her earliest memories was of her grandfather, Silas Reynolds. He was a veteran of the Civil War serving as a sergeant in Company "K" 73rd Indiana Infantry Volunteers. When she was 5 years old he came to visit his son and having received his pension, he was feeling generous and offered to take her downtown and buy her a new dress. She was instructed to chose whatever pattern and material that pleased her. It would be up to her mother to make the dress. She chose the material, pattern and color that he thought substantial. It was cretonne. The dictionary describes it as "a strong unglazed printed cloth" that was suited for upholstery and draperies. In addition to this the background was black with large purple flowers. Nothing like the soft cloth and prints expected on little girls dresses. Her mother was "fit-to-be-tied." She procrastinated in making the dress, but a promise was a promise. New dresses were worn only on special occasions. This dress was worn out quickly as she could only wear it to play in.
When she was six, spring was late arriving and she couldn't wait to go barefooted. The clover and dandelions were all in bloom and she floated in the yard with this new freedom. She could run, jump and dance lightly touching the grass. That was until she stepped on a bee. The bee stung her between her littlest toes on her right foot. Her mother carried her into the house and applied soda on the sting. The pain didn't stop immediately and when she continue to cry her mother told her to stop bawling as it was all in her head.
Her brother Carl, nick-named "Penny," always seemed cool and indifferent to Irene. When she was about 12, she confronted Penny about this indifference. He confessed, that on the day she was born, that he was playing baseball and they were in the middle of a game. Penny was 14 at the time and his team was coming up to bat, when his dad called him home. He had to run three miles into town to get the doctor. He missed his turn at bat and resented her for that. After being confronted by this, they became the best of friends.
Her only remembrance of her grandmother, Eliza Jane [Miller] Allen, occurred when she was two years old. Her grandmother was a widow living with them only with a separate entrance to her living quarters. Her brother Ross had been punished by his parents and went outdoors crying. As only a little girl could, Irene tried to console him. As they walked by grandma's door, she came to the door and invited him in, shutting the door in Irene's face.
As a young lady in high school, her early memories were of evenings when all the neighbors and relatives would come over to their new big house near Decatur City. All the furniture was taken out of the living and dining rooms and they would commence square dancing. Generally, there was enough room that three squares of dancers would be running at a time with the organ and fiddle wailing away. Her father and grandfather Silas were excellent callers and everyone danced until they couldn't take another step.
Aunt Irene died October 08, 1998, a little over a week after her 102nd birthday. Except for a brief time in West View Acres where she passed away, Irene had lived alone since 1973 when Lester died. She had fallen previously and had a hip replacement when she was 99. She had set a goal to attend the Reynolds' reunion in Des Moines and walk up the hill, which she did with assistance. Her doctor commented that she was one of the best patients he had ever had. Her niece, Gladys Ferne [Kendall] McMaster spent the night with her on her 100th birthday. She was four years younger than Irene and they lived together when Ferne was going to high school. Ferne's family stayed at the motel and left the two of them alone. They sat up like school girls and talked most of the night. Her nephew, Lowell Reynolds, came by periodically to check on her and take care of her yard and make minor repairs. She talks continuously, probably for two reasons; she loves company and has much to share. Second, she is hard of hearing and rather than admitting that she can't hear, she nervously keeps talking to keep from being asked questions. After each vignette, she would take a deep sigh, mutter "oh dear," gather her breath and go on to another story.
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Irene Catherine Akes, daughter of Oliver Perry Harding (Hazard) Reynolds and Irena Catherine (Allen) Reynolds, was born Sept. 27, 1896, at Allerton, Iowa, and died at Westview Acres in Leon, Iowa, Oct. 8, 1998, at the age of 102.

Irene was named for her mother, Irena, but always went by Irene. She graduated from Leon High School.

She married John Lester Akes soon before he went into the military to serve in World War I. The couple lived in Creston, Iowa, were John worked for the railroad and Irene boarded school teachers. During World War II they moved to Rock Island, IL, where they both worked in the arsenal. They retired to southern Missouri. On March 31, 1973, while they lived in Billings, John died. Later Irene moved back to Leon.

Irene and John did not have any children of their own, but dearly loved and enjoyed their nieces and nephews. She was good to all of them and gave them the things their parents could not. She also was generous to various charities, especially those that involved children.

Irene enjoyed working in her large garden and in her many flower beds. She also fed many cats in the neighborhood.

She was an active member of St. Brendan's Catholic Church in Leon. She hosted many daily prayer services and attended church regularly as long as her health allowed.

She was honored for her 100th birthday at the Iowa Governor's Mansion. She also enjoyed an open house birthday party at the Leon Community Center. She remained the independent woman as she was up to the end, even hip surgeries in 1993 and 1995 only slowed her down for a short time. Her spunk and upbeat personality will be missed by all those who knew her.

Preceding her in death were her parents; seven brothers: Merit L., Guy C., Carl M., Oliver P., Roscoe C., Harrison H., and Thaddeus M. Reynolds; and three sisters: Flora W. Kendall, infant Eliza J. Reynolds, and Mary A. Alley.
Survivors include her nieces and nephews; other relatives; her church family and many friends.