Bernice "Bea" Carnahan
September 28, 1918 — September 15, 2020
Bernice “Bea” Carnahan, 101, passed away September 15, 2020, in Prescott Valley, Arizona. A family service will be held in Iowa at a later date. Burial will take place at Springville Cemetery in Springville, Iowa. Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion, Iowa, is assisting the family.
Bea was born September 28, 1918, in Brookings, South Dakota, to Cleve and Mabel Bennett. For most of her life, Bea lived and worked in Iowa. She is a 1935 graduate of Springville High School. For several years, Bea worked as a secretary at Mt. Vernon Bank, and later as a secretary at Penick and Ford in Cedar Rapids. Following her retirement from Penick and Ford, she and her husband, Jim, spent winters in Apache Junction, Arizona. In 2005, they moved to Prescott, Arizona.
Bernice was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; daughter, Sally Knorpp; siblings, Clyde Bennett, Ray Bennett and Eula Hall; and nephews, Dave Bennett and Mark Bennett.
She is survived by a daughter, Kay (David) Keeley from Prescott, Arizona; son-in-law, Larry Knorpp of San Benito, Texas; grandchildren, Patti Ryan (Thomas Osbourne) of Dallas, Texas, Tom Ryan of Omaha, Nebraska, Kirsten (Mark) Fletcher of Bartlett, Illinois, and Erin Keeley (Jeff Yates) of Seattle Washington; great-grandchildren, Tyler (Chayla) Ryan of San Diego, California, Trevor Ryan of Omaha, Nebraska, Abigail Fletcher and Sam Fletcher of Bartlett, Illinois, Hollis Yates of Seattle, Washington; nephews, Lee (Elaine) Coppock of Marion, Iowa, Mike (Darleen) Bennett of Rialto, California; and nieces, Joan (Rick) Shultz of Des Moines, Iowa, and Sarah (Jim) Hedrick of Wilmington, Delaware.
Bea’s sense of humor was infectious. She was outgoing and had many friends. Bea and Jim loved to dance and were part of a square dance group in Apache Junction for several years. She was devoted to family and was instrumental in getting family together at every opportunity. Bea’s work ethic was inspirational, and she will be missed.
Bea was born September 28, 1918, in Brookings, South Dakota, to Cleve and Mabel Bennett. For most of her life, Bea lived and worked in Iowa. She is a 1935 graduate of Springville High School. For several years, Bea worked as a secretary at Mt. Vernon Bank, and later as a secretary at Penick and Ford in Cedar Rapids. Following her retirement from Penick and Ford, she and her husband, Jim, spent winters in Apache Junction, Arizona. In 2005, they moved to Prescott, Arizona.
Bernice was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; daughter, Sally Knorpp; siblings, Clyde Bennett, Ray Bennett and Eula Hall; and nephews, Dave Bennett and Mark Bennett.
She is survived by a daughter, Kay (David) Keeley from Prescott, Arizona; son-in-law, Larry Knorpp of San Benito, Texas; grandchildren, Patti Ryan (Thomas Osbourne) of Dallas, Texas, Tom Ryan of Omaha, Nebraska, Kirsten (Mark) Fletcher of Bartlett, Illinois, and Erin Keeley (Jeff Yates) of Seattle Washington; great-grandchildren, Tyler (Chayla) Ryan of San Diego, California, Trevor Ryan of Omaha, Nebraska, Abigail Fletcher and Sam Fletcher of Bartlett, Illinois, Hollis Yates of Seattle, Washington; nephews, Lee (Elaine) Coppock of Marion, Iowa, Mike (Darleen) Bennett of Rialto, California; and nieces, Joan (Rick) Shultz of Des Moines, Iowa, and Sarah (Jim) Hedrick of Wilmington, Delaware.
Bea’s sense of humor was infectious. She was outgoing and had many friends. Bea and Jim loved to dance and were part of a square dance group in Apache Junction for several years. She was devoted to family and was instrumental in getting family together at every opportunity. Bea’s work ethic was inspirational, and she will be missed.
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