Florence Olive Spies 1919-2010

SPIES HARVEY PRATT

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 2/16/2011 at 00:18:56

Sioux City Journal
24 June 2010

SIOUX CITY -- Florence Olive Spies, 90, of Sioux City, formerly of Hinton, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, June 22, 2010, at Westwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Services will be 11 a.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Roger Madden officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be 4 to 7 p.m. today at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to meyerbroschapels.com.

Florence was born Oct. 14, 1919, in Le Mars, Iowa, the daughter of Walter and Julia (Harvey) Pratt.

On Feb. 17, 1942, Florence married Wayne Allen Spies in South Sioux City. They were married for 64 years when he died April 27, 2006, in Sioux City.

Florence pursued an education as a teacher and in the medical arts. She taught rural school in Plymouth County for six years, in Hinton for four years, and in Sioux City for 21 years. She further received her bachelor of science and medicine in 1960. In 1972, she received her master of arts and teaching from Morningside College.

As a committed lifelong Republican, Florence was politically active throughout her life and served as chairman of Precinct 11 for almost 20 years. She was a member of the Plymouth County Republican Central Committee and served as a delegate at the Republican State Convention.

Florence created beautiful embroidered table cloths, bedspreads, and hand towels, which are now family heirlooms. She loved watching sports and winning at cards.

Florence is survived by her son and his wife, Daniel and Marcia Spies of Earlville, Ill.; a daughter, Ruth Laudon and her husband, James of Council Bluffs, Iowa; three grandchildren, Amy Spies of Auburn, Ill., and Brian Spies and Douglas Spies and his wife, Betsy, all of Cincinnati, Ohio; two stepgrandsons, Robert Philip of Peru, Ill., and John Philip of Earlville, Ill; 13 great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who cared for her in her last years.

Florence was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; three sisters; and two brothers.

Brian Spies, Douglas Spies, Robert Philip, John Philip, Seth "Max" Jones and Mike Sitzman will serve as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Siouxland Hospice or your favorite charity in Florence's name