Rose Minnie Akeley

Lock Haven- Rose Minnie Akeley, 85, of 110 Akeley Lane, died early Saturday morning, June 14, 2008 in the Lock Haven Hospital Extended Care Unit where she had been a patient for a number of weeks. Born May 5, 1923 in Okmulgee, Okla., she was the daughter of Clinton and Jane Gibson Probst who returned to Lock Haven when Rose Minnie was 2 years old. A 1941 graduate of Lock Haven High School where she lead the cheerleading squad, she graduated in 1945 from Lock Haven State Teachers College with a dual education major in English and speech/drama. She married John W. Akeley on Sept. 21, 1942. He preceded her in death Aug. 7, 2000. Together they were very active in community affairs and their church and were named Citizens of the Year by the Rotary Club of Lock Haven in 1980. Mrs. Akeley worked part time in local businesses, including Luria's dress shop, while raising her family, and became a teacher in 1975. She taught English, speech and drama at Lock Haven High School, where she also directed plays and musicals and was involved with the annual student talent show, The Purple Whirl. She retired in 1988, and she and her husband owned and operated Akeley's Antiques and Collectibles. As a dealer, Mrs. Akeley concentrated on baskets, postcards and other ephemera. A proud member and past president of the Lock Haven University Alumni Association, she received the Alumni Achievement Award and the Distinguished Service Award, both in 1981. The Friends of the Ross Library honored her as the Friend of the Year in 1987. A longtime member of that organization, she chaired the Pavilion Sale for a number of years. Rose Minnie and John were active in The Playmakers community theatre group in their younger years and were among the founders of Millbrook Playhouse. They were members and officers on the board of directors for many years, with Rose Minnie serving as secretary. A lifelong member of Covenant United Methodist Church, Mrs. Akeley served in several capacities over the years, including the Worship Committee and most recently the Board of Trustees. She was a member of the Crusaders and the Upper Room Seekers classes. She was a past regent and ROTC Award chair for the Col. Hugh White Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was enthusiastic about attending her high school class's monthly luncheons. She was a member of the local garden club at one time and developed her talent of Ikebana flower arranging. Mrs. Akeley also enjoyed other Japanese art forms as well as feeding the birds and relaxing by her goldfish ponds. She and her husband were enthusiastic square dancers in their younger years. Surviving are four children, Wendy A. (Robert N.G.) Stiver of Lock Haven, D.J. (Robert D.) Stack of Laflin, Nancy E. (George C.) Lewis of Bethlehem and James P. (Kristina) Akeley of rural Mill Hall; and a god-daughter Sandra L. (Rod M.) Grugan of Melbourne, Fla. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, Rob, Matthew, Holly, Elizabeth, Michael, Macy, Jack and Nathan. Preceding her in death, along with her parents and husband, was a daughter Elizabeth Ann, who died in infancy. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Covenant United Methodist Church, 44 W. Main St., Lock Haven, with the Rev. Kathleen Kind officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Helt Funeral Chapel, 232 Hogan Blvd. Mill Hall, and Wednesday at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be in Swissdale Cemetery. The family requests memorial contributions be made to Covenant United Methodist Church, 44 W. Main St., Lock Haven, PA 17745; Millbrook Playhouse, P.O. Box 161, Mill Hall, PA 17751; or to the Ross Library, 232 W. Main St., Lock Haven, PA 17745. www.bestlifetributes.com