Fayetta Houchin Scheel

Fayetta (Houchin) Scheel, daughter of Franklin and Francina Ethel Meredith Houchin, was born on November 13, 1915 in Taylor County near Gravity, Iowa. Fayetta entered eternal rest on August 7, 2011 at Alegent Health Mercy Hospital in Corning, Iowa at the age of ninety-five years, eight months and twenty-five days.
Fayetta attended eight years at Gravel Point country school in Holt Township then attended Gravity High School, graduating in 1933. After high school Fayetta started working in homes, helping with house work and caring for the elderly.
In 1936, she was united in marriage to Thomas R. Reed and daughter, Wauneta was born to this union. The couple lived on a farm in Taylor County for seven years. They later divorced. Fayetta began working at Johnsons Café. This is where she met Arthur Scheel. The couple married and made Corning their home. Later they divorced.
Fayetta went to work for Carl and Mary Otto at the Coffee Shoppe for eight years. She then purchased Walton’s Café, formerly known as Johnsons Café, and operated the café for twenty years. After selling the café, Fayetta went to work for Colonial Manor in Corning as a cook. After fifteen months, she left the nursing home and began providing daycare in her home seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. After four years, Fayetta went back to work at Colonial Manor as a CNA and Certified Medical Aid where she worked until she retired. Fayetta traveled for a while before providing home health care to the elderly. She also delivered the Omaha World Herald to rural routes for twenty years, the Des Moines Register and answered phones for Ledgerwood Ambulance Service.
Fayetta was a loving and nurturing person and lived her entire life as a caretaker. She adored her grandchildren. Over the years she helped raise her grandchildren, especially the three oldest.
Fayetta was an Honorary Member of Royal Neighbors. She enjoyed the card club at Westgate and attended the Corning Christian Church.
Left to cherish Fayetta’s memory is her daughter, Wauneta (husband Jim) Hatton of Corning, IA; seven grandchildren: Richard (Roxanne) Corum of Omaha, NE, Kim (Dallas) Russell of Palmdale, CA, Becky (Scott) McAlexander of Eugene, OR, Jeff (Cindy) Reed of Lincoln, NE, Cherokie (Brian) Davis of Lenox, IA, Danny (Reme) Hatton of Denison, IA, Deb (Tony) Beam of Denison, IA; fourteen great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; special niece, Kay Parrott of Corning, IA; numerous other nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Fayetta was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers: Ivan and Cleo Houchin; sister, Geneva Smith; two grandsons: David Hatton and Steve Reed; first husband, Tom Reed; second husband, Art Scheel.