Eloise Ann Brown Raffety, 87, of Grinnell died October 15, 2018, at the Mayflower Community Health Center in Grinnell. A private interment service was held at Hazelwood Cemetery. A celebration of Eloise's life is planned for 2:00 p.m. Saturday, December 15th, at the Mayflower Community Carman Center in Grinnell. Eloise was born on March 15, 1931 to Preston and Dorothy (Birkett) Brown. The third of four children, she was raised on the family farm outside of West Liberty. A graduate of West Liberty Community High School, she attended Grinnell College for two years and achieved a degree in Home Economics at Iowa State University in 1952. Her first employment was in Washington, Iowa as a Home Economist. In later years she served as the director of Grinnell's senior daycare center. On December 12, 1953, she was married to Maynard L. Raffety in West Liberty. The couple lived in Fairbanks, Alaska where Maynard was serving as a 2nd Lt. in the 74th Air Rescue Squadron and later in Long Island, New York while Maynard completed his Air Force service. In 1956 they moved back to Iowa to operate a grain and dairy farm and raise their family. Eloise took on adventures throughout her life as a wife, mother, and community member. She enjoyed flying with Maynard to visit numerous friends and relatives across the United States, the challenges of farming, and the rewards of family reunions. She was active in the First Baptist Church, 4-H, the Malcom Worthwhile Club, Tuesday Club, Grinnell League of Women Voters, the Grinnell Town & Country Singers, and P.E.O., Chapter JB. Survivors include her sister Janice (Carl) Christiansen; four children, Carla (Eric) Pence of Cleveland, North Carolina, Janet (Randy) Fort of Northville, Michigan, Marilyn (Mark) Kennett of Grinnell, and Sara (Larry) Peek of Colorado Springs, Colorado; ten grandchildren, Rachel, Christopher, Rebecca, Scott, Sara, Amy, Jenny, David, Leslie, and Steven; and four great-grandchildren, Scott, Ivan, Julia, and Kieran. Eloise was preceded in death by her husband, parents, brother Ronald, and sister Corinne. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the American Baptist Retired Ministers and Missionaries Offering or the Mayflower Human Needs Fund in care of Smith Funeral Home at 1103 Broad Street, Grinnell.