Celebration of Life Services for Eva Grace "Gracie" Flynn, 94, of Indianola, formerly of Norwalk, who passed away Sunday, April 9, 2023, in Indianola, will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, April 15, 2023, at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola.  Visitation will be held prior to services from 10 to 11 a.m.  Inurnment of cremains will follow services in the Belmont Cemetery, Milo.

Eva Grace "Gracie" Middleswart was born November 25, 1928, in rural Warren County, Iowa, to Rev. Fay and Mabel Middleswart.  Gracie was the fourth child of five girls and the sisters remained close their entire lives.  They lived on a farm in rural Warren County while their father pastored several Christian Union churches in the area.  Gracie graduated from Indianola High School in 1946 and right after high school, she started working for Farmers' Casualty Insurance in Des Moines.  She was proud to work there and retired as an officer 40 years later.

Gracie married Gene Flynn on June 9, 1947.  They did not have children of their own, but she treated their dogs like they were her children.  She also loved her nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews as though they were her own.  She enjoyed gardening when they were not traveling.  After Gracie retired, she and Gene loaded up their dog in their RV and set out for a cross-country trip, visiting friends and relatives in many different western states.

Over the years, she enjoyed spending time with her mother and her sisters whenever they could get together.  Lovingly referred to as "The Qtips" for their beautiful white hair, the sisters laughed and shared adventures with their husbands on many different occasions.  If the husbands didn't want to go, the feisty Middleswart sisters would go without them!

Gracie was a faithful member of Grace Baptist Church.  She was a dedicated servant through her involvement as a counter and the women's group.  She couldn't attend in the final years of her life, but her indelible mark will be evident in the church for many years to come.

She was preceded in death by her husband Gene, her parents Rev. Fay and Mabel Middleswart, sisters and their husbands Barbara (Roland) Hunerdosse, Ruth (Dean) Robertson, Edith (Bill) Gray, brother-in-law Ron Higdon, nephew Charles Robertson, niece Dr. Arminta Shetterly, great-niece Dawn Swanson, and great-great-nephew Jordan Hunerdosse.  She is survived by her sister June Higdon, 7 nieces and nephews and many great- and great-great nieces and nephews as well as other extended family and friends.

Special thanks to Angela and the staff at Vintage Hills and the staff at Suncrest Hospice for their loving care of our sweet Gracie.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Kavanaugh House on 56 ^th hospice house or Suncrest Hospice for their Pet Therapy program.