Mary Rebecca (Pletcher) FLOWER

PLETCHER, FLOWER, MULLENIX, RUTHERFORD, WAGGONER, PARSONS, LARA, PARDUN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 5/5/2017 at 22:34:20

August 24, 1914 --- April 14, 2005

Mary Rebecca Flower, 90, of Springfield, Mo., formerly of Eagle Grove, died Thursday, April 14, 2005, at Doctors Hospital North in Springfield. Services were held on Tuesday, April 19, at the Assembly of God Church in Eagle Grove, with Reverend Irvin Rutherford and Pastor Paul Jackson officiating. Burial was held at Rose Hill Cemetery in Eagle Grove.

Mary Rebecca Pletcher was born August 24, 1914, to Amos E. and Blanche (Mullenix) Pletcher, at Nuel, Iowa (an elevator/railroad stop) SW of Eagle Grove, where her father was employed. They moved to Clarion when Mary was 3 years old, then to Eagle Grove, where her father worked at the IPS company until retirement. She attended Lela Howland Elementary School and graduated from Eagle Grove High School in 1932. She took normal training in her senior year and after studying one year at Eagle Grove Junior College, she then taught 3 years in country schools near Clarion and Eagle Grove.

In 1937, she was married to William Paul Flower, son of Paul and Nellie Flower of Eagle Grove. They had four children, who survive her along with their spouses: Rev. Ms. Paula Marie Flower, veteran missionary to Africa of Springfield, Mo., Rev. David and Mrs. Anna Mae Flower of Davenport, Iowa, Linda, wife of Rev. Irvin Rutherford (veteran missionaries to Asia) of Global Ministry Teams, Inman, S. C , and Alan and Mrs. Betty Flower of Sun City, Ariz. One son, Scott Dean, preceded them in death.

In 1954, she went back to teachers' training at Eagle Grove Junior College and graduated in 1956 in the same ceremony as Paula's high school class. In January 1956, she began teaching at Thor Elementary School and continued until 1962, when she began teaching at Eagle Grove's Lincoln Elementary School. She continued studies with Drake University until she received her Bachelor's degree in 1966. She retired from teaching in 1980 and was the sole caregiver for her husband, Paul, who had a rare neurological disease, until his death in 1983. Mary was a well-loved teacher, who, in her words, had taught children, their children and their grandchildren. It was said that children looked forward to being her students, in fact, one little girl happily proclaimed that her teacher was also "promoted" to the next class when Mary was asked to teach the next grade. Her colleagues always enjoyed the interesting stories of her teaching experiences. Paul and Mary faithfully loved and served their Lord in their home church. They were married and raised their children in the Eagle Grove Open Bible Church. Later, they became members of the Assembly of God Church. Mary was involved in the WCTU and later Christian Women's club, where she served in nearly every capacity. She loved leading their Bible studies and so enjoyed the fellowship of many dear ladies in Eagle Grove. The last few years, before selling her home on Garfield, she lived with son, David and family, in Davenport, Iowa. Since June 2004, she lived with daughter, Paula, in Springfield, Mo., where Paula serves in a satellite office for Africa. Mary will be greatly missed.

She is survived by their four children; seven grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren: Ms. Deleisha Flower, Davenport; Stephen Flower, and son, Scott, Rock Island, Ill.; Joe and Danita Flower of Davenport; Mrs. Reagan (Deanna Rutherford) Waggoner, minister/husband and sons, Corbin and Conner, Sugarland, Texas; Mrs. Steve Parsons (Danae Rutherford), minister/husband, Steve, and daughter, Chloe Ann, Great Britain; Mrs. Ryan (Tonya Rutherford), husband, and children, Hannah, and Andrew Columbia, Mo.; Mrs. Gus Lara (Christine Flower), and husband, Surprise, Ariz. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Paul, their son, Scott Dean, Paul's parents, and his sister, Evilo Flower Pardun. Foust Funeral Home of Eagle Grove was in charge of arrangements.

Eagle Grove Eagle --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
April 20, 2005