Carol E Finley
Carol E Finley
Carol E Finley
February 21, 1940 – January 27, 2026
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 85
Carol E. Finley, 85, of Oskaloosa, died Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at the MHP Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa. She was born February 21, 1940, in Peekskill, New York, the daughter of Robert and Mary Reilly Purdy.
Carol graduated from Antilope Valley High School with the class of 1958.
On June 18, 1960, she was united in marriage to Howard Finley in Santa Barbara, California. Following their marriage Carol stayed home to care for her family and home.
In 1978, the family moved to Oskaloosa. Carol worked at DeGeest Law Firm in Oskaloosa for 16 years, retiring from there in 2001.
She was an active member of St. James Episcopal Church in Oskaloosa where she served as church secretary and in several leadership positions.
She loved to do crafts, crochet and counted cross stitch. When her daughters were involved in the band program at Oskaloosa, she volunteered countless hours supporting the program. She enjoyed going to the mall to walk and always looked forward to coffeetime at Smokey Row after. She was an avid Iowa Hawkeye and New York Giants football fan. Most of all she loved being a grandma and was really excited about her great grandchild that is due in July.
Her family includes her two daughters, Casey Plecas of West Des Moines, Iowa and Barbara Finley of Oskaloosa; two grandchildren, Lara Plecas and Devon (& Taylor) Plecas; a sister-in-law, Stephanie Purdy of Camarillo, California; and nieces and nephews, Kellie (& Ed) Marchak, Kristi Finley, Tracy (& Becky) Huchens, Ryan Purdy, and Brendon Purdy.
Carol was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Finley on August 20, 2016; her parents; her brother, Robert Purdy; and nephew, Richard Huchens.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 7, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. in the St. James Episcopal Church in Oskaloosa with Reverend Terry Kleven officiating.
Burial will be in the Violet Hill Cemetery at Perry, Iowa. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Visitation will begin Saturday, February 7, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. and the family will be at the church until service time at 10:30 Saturday morning to greet friends and relatives.
Memorials may be made to St. James Episcopal Church.
