Services for Elsie LaVange Hughes Charles, 88 who died March 9, 1992 in Jefferson, Iowa were held Thursday, March 12 at First United Methodist Church in Jefferson. Dr. Allen Call officiated. Burial was in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Omaha.

Elsie LaVange Hughes was born October 23, 1903 to Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Hughes of Blair, the third of five children. The family moved to a farm near Menlo, Iowa where she attended school and graduated from high school in the class of 1921.

She attended Iowa State Teachers College at Cedar Falls, Iowa and Midland College in Fremont, Nebraska. She taught school in both Iowa and Nebraska, teaching for many years in the Blair, Nebraska Public Schools.

She married Chester Charles in 1937 and moved with him to Jefferson, Iowa where they bought and operated the Charles Jewelry Store. She learned the clock and watch trade and became an accredited watchmaker.

She was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church. She sang in the choirs and also directed them. She was a member of a local music story group, the N.C.C. Club.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Chester in 1971; four stepchildren; two brothers, William Loyd Hughes and Harry Hillard Hughes and a sister, Mrs. Flonnie Siedelman.

She is survived by her sister, Mrs. Esther Flynn of Blair and by several nieces and nephews.

Casket bearers were Don Coon, Gib Bell, Bill Cobb, Jim Graven, Carroll White and James Zabel. Helen Wilson and Sandy Call were organists. The Over 60 Choir provided part of the music.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson.

Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home of Jefferson and Grand Junction was in charge of arrangements.