Eleanor M. Wayson, age 100, of Waterloo and former longtime resident of Independence, died Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at Affinity House in Waterloo.

She was born April 27, 1913 in Walford, Iowa, the daughter of William and Anna (Hoard) Kimm. Eleanor graduated from Walford High School and attended Mercy School of Nursing in Cedar Rapids. She was united in marriage with Carl H. Wayson on May 18, 1938 in Klemme, Iowa. He preceded her in death in 1978.

Eleanor was a homemaker and also worked for several years as a nurse aide at People’s Memorial hospital in Independence. She was a former member of St. John Catholic Church in Independence and a current member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Waterloo. Eleanor loved to cook, was a skilled seamstress and liked to listen to country music. She enjoyed writing and wrote several books about her family and its history.

Survivors include 2 daughters, Sharon (John) Herman of Waterloo, Cheryl (Greg) Dopson of Kansas City, MO.; 2 sons-in-law, William Cool of Excelsior, MN and Vern Wilkinson of Cedar Rapids; 9 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; and a sister, Charlotte Hessinus of Cedar Rapids.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a daughter, Sheila Cool; a great grandson, Nicholas Herman; 2 sisters, Kathryn and Janet and 4 brothers, Raymond, Charles, Edward and Robert.