Clay Dawson Memorial Celebration
As you know, Clay Dawson passed away on December 20th, 2018, at the age of 84. Clay and his wife Kathleen were CVIDS members from 2002 until 2016, and Clay served as club president during 2008-2009. For many years, Clay and Kathleen's beautiful garden was one of AHS' National Display Gardens. We miss him tremendously. On June 29th, a Memorial Celebration of his life was held at Eldridge United Methodist Church. Many CVIDS members were in attendance including Keith Riewerts who provided a moving account of this wonderful occasion.

The Daylily Community Loses CVIDS Charter Member Gerald Hobbs
It is with the utmost sadness that I must inform you that our good friend Gerald Hobbs passed away on Saturday, May 18th, at the age of 90. The Hobbs family met with friends on Tuesday, May 21st, at the King-Lynk Funeral Home and Crematory in Fort Madison, where a Celebration of Life was held. Gerald was buried in Oakland Cemetery. His obituary can be accessed here. A memorial has been established in his memory, and online condolences may be left at: www.kinglynk.com.

In recent years, daylily cultivation played a major part in Gerald’s life. He was a charter member of the Cedar Valley Iris & Daylily Society, which he helped found in 1990. Gerald will be greatly missed not only by CVIDS members but also by daylily enthusiasts in the Midwest and nationwide. He was a prolific and gifted daylily hybridizer, registering over 50 new varieties that can be viewed at the American Hemerocallis Daylily Database. A wonderful and kind gentleman, Gerald was always happy to share his expertise with others. On behalf of CVIDS, I extend our sincere condolences to the Hobbs Family.

Shirley Waters Passes Away
I am sorry to inform you that longtime CVIDS member Shirley Waters of Moline, IL, passed away on Monday, March 25th, at the age of 70. Funeral services were held on Friday, March 29th, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Moline, and she was buried at the National Cemetery, Rock Island Arsenal. Memorials may be made to the church. Shirley was a keen daylily enthusiast and always great fun to be around. She was a CVIDS member during 2003-2017. Her obituary can be accessed here. We shall miss her.

Shirley Waters (photo courtesy of Keith Riewerts)

Longtime CVIDS Member Passes Away
On January 16th, Jonathan received word from Lisa Kramer, the daughter of longtime CVIDS member Don Erling, that Don passed away on October 23rd, 2018, at age 85 and was laid to rest on October 27th in Clinton, IA. Don belonged to CVIDS since 2007 and was also a Master Gardener. His obituary can be accessed at Pape Funeral & Cremation Services, Clinton.

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