Sally Ann Hougland, 91, of Indianola, Iowa, passed away peacefully after a long illness on Wednesday, February 26, 2025 at home in Indianola. She was surrounded at the end by family members who prayed and sang as she moved on to her eternal rest.

Sally was born in 1933 in Oskaloosa, Iowa. She was raised by her adoptive parents, Bert and Rusha Jane Smothers in Bloomfield, Iowa. She graduated from Bloomfield High School as part of the class of 1952. On June 1st, 1952 she married Harold Richard Hougland, her high school sweetheart. Shortly thereafter Sally and Harold moved to Indianola and bought their first home together there in 1959. They raised three daughters together and were married 27 years until Harold's death in 1979.

Over the course of her life in Indianola, she worked for 24 years as a cook at Indianola Community Schools, then served as a Certified Nursing Assistant for 8 years at Good Samaritan Nursing Home. She later worked for 14 years at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines on the oncology floor prior to her retirement in 2002.

Sally and Harold were long-time members of the Indianola Church of the Nazarene where she taught Sunday School, served on the church board, worked with church youth, sang in the choir, and played trumpet and piano in the worship services. Later in life Sally attended Indianola First Assembly of God.

Those who knew her recognized her as a true good Samaritan, as she was often visiting people in nursing homes, driving friends to doctor appointments, pet-sitting, and taking meals to sick neighbors.

She enjoyed roller skating in her youth, taking walks, watching marching bands, and collecting dolls and a variety of other things. One of the great delights of Sally's life was riding motorcycles, a pastime she enjoyed initially with her husband, then later by herself as part of a community motorcycle club. Her CB radio handle was "Foxy Lady," a great illustration of her unique sense of humor. Her favorite flowers were yellow roses, and she especially loved the color blue. She had a special fondness for Dairy Queen dilly bars and cinnamon honey bun rolls.

She is preceded in death by her adoptive parents, Bert and Rusha; husband, Harold; birth mother, Edna Maye Ross; and her sister, Peggy Douglas of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

She is survived by her daughters, Cindy Barbas of St. Augustine, Florida, Rhonda Shorr (Casey), of Murfreesboro, Tennessee and Brenda Cooper (Robert) of Indianola, Iowa. Also, remaining are her grandchildren, Misty Garofalo (Craig) of St. Augustine, Florida, Elizabeth Bates (Jake) of Story City, Iowa, David Cooper (Trisha) of Deford, Michigan, Erica Johnson (Chad) of Indianola, Alaina Gumto (Dale) of Nolensville, Tennessee, and Matthew Shorr (Heather) of Gallatin, Tennessee. She also leaves behind 24 great-grandchildren, Madeline Senn (Noah), Emily Garofalo, Chloe Garofalo, Isaiah Bates, Moriah Bates, Hannah Bates, Sophia Bates, Eliana Bates, Isabella Cooper, Alaythia Cooper, Evangeline Cooper, Owen Cooper, Grant Cooper, Sonya Cooper, Silas Cooper, Grayson Gumto, Landry Gumto, Emmeline Gumto, Isaac Johnson, Aubrie Johnson, Eli Johnson, Ryland Shorr, Coen Shorr and Isla Shorr.

Funeral Services will be held 2 p.m., Monday, March 3 at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola with burial following in the Indianola IOOF Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be held prior to services from 12 to 2 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to Suncrest Hospice (5959 Village View Dr #100, West Des Moines, IA 50266) or Donate to St. Judes Children's Hospital in Sally's memory.