Devonnabelle Reynolds

TRENTON, Neb. Devonnabelle Reynolds was born Nov. 18, 1919, at Trenton in the living quarters of the CB&Q depot where her father was the station master. She entered into eternal rest at El Dorado Manor in Trenton on May 6, 2019, at the age of 99 years. Devonnabelle was the daughter of Gordon and Beulah Welch Towle. She was a lifelong member of the Trenton community. She graduated from Trenton High School in 1937. On June 1, 1947, she married Quentin Reynolds of Benkelman in the Trenton Congregational Church. They took a trip to Chicago, Toronto and Niagara Falls for their honeymoon. Devonnabelle held the office of Hitchcock County Clerk, Register of Deeds and Clerk of the District Court, having been elected in 1942 and retiring in 1986, a span of 44 years. She also served as interim county treasurer, county assessor and county judge. During many of these years she was a bonded abstractor. The required work in these positions was not all she did - she knew off the top of her head where farmers lived, the real estate they owned, who their neighbors were and data from their land records and was helpful to all. Many county residents came to her for business advice, etc. and she helped everyone she could. The employees in her office were well-trained and often remained friends for life. There is a memorial to her outside the Hitchcock County Courthouse. She served as chairperson of the Hitchcock County Republican Party for many years. She was a member of the Board of Trustees for the Congregational Church and was instrumental in the building of El Dorado Manor acting as the Chairperson of the Board during its construction and initial operation. Devonnabelle was also a mainstay in the area Business and Professional Womens Club. She also served as secretary-treasurer of the Daughters of the Nile-Bahis Nilettes as well as being an active member of the Eastern Star and the Shrine Auxiliary in McCook. Another important project to the area was working on the committee whose goal was to improve Highway 25 and hopefully make it a route from Texas to Canada. Devonnabelle made friends in all of her contacts including national representative Virginia Smith, secretaries and landsmen of various oil companies for which she prepared abstracts. She was always willing to go the extra mile and help everyone with whom she came in contact. She loved to travel and went to many interesting places including London, Washington, D.C., Japan and the island of Saba. Fall Saturdays often found Quentin and her at a Nebraska football game. In later years she often was found watching sports on television. Preceding Devonnabelle in death was her husband, Quentin; her parents, Gordon and Beulah Towle; brother, Kenneth Towle; and sisters, Yvonne Carson and Alberta Schlaefli. Surviving her are their two children, Celeste (Peter) Fenichel of London, England and John (Pat) Reynolds of Simi Valley, Calif.; four grandchildren, Andrew (Sherine) Fenichel and Alex Fenichel and Sarah Jane Reynolds and Michael (Calena) Reynolds; plus many, many friends. The family would like to thank the Trenton community, her many friends, her business contacts, Brookdale in McCook and El Dorado in Trenton for showing kindness throughout her life. Memorial services for Devonnabelle will be Thursday, July 11, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. at the Trenton Congregational Church with a lunch following at the Trenton TCDC Building. A private family inurnment will be held at the Trenton Cemetery. It is suggested that memorials be directed to the Hitchcock County Womens Club or the Hitchcock County School Foundation. A footnote to this obituary: A large part of the preceding was typed by Devonnabelle on her faithful IBM typewriter. Said document was dated Oct. 1, 1995. YES, she was always WELL organized! Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Memorial Service United Church Of Christ Congregational Thursday, July 11, 2019 10:30 AM 221 West 1st Street Trenton, Nebraska 69044