Mom

Mom!  So special, so loved and so missed.

Florence Louise Stone was born Oct 31, 1908 to Hugh Emery and Adla Charlotte (Larson) Stone in Hendley, Nebraska.  She was the youngest of 7 children, 5 of whom lived to adulthood  As a small child she moved with her family to Humansville, MO.  Grandpa was a farmer and had heard the land in Missouri was better for farming and had more trees.  They did farm and even had a small canning factory at one time.


Mom attended and graduated from Humansville High School.  From her high school yearbooks she was very popular and studious.  One quote describing her in her Sophomore year book said: "Florence Stone: "Always wears a smile." She was a member of the Glee Club and Teacher's Training Class.  After graduation she attended Springfield Normal School, now Missouri State University, in the summer of 1928. During those years after taking  high school training classes and some college courses a prospective teacher needed only to pass a teacher's examination to teach in rural school.  Mom taught school in Plum Grove and Pleasant Ridge (1930) rural schools near Humansville, boarding with parents of the children and walking to school.  It was on one of these walks to school that a certain young man stopped to give her a ride to school.

Because of her mother's illness, Florence quite teaching to care for her.    Not too long after the free ride to school this notice appeared in the local paper:   "One of Humansville's popular young ladies is wearing a 'nifty' and beautiful new diamond engagement ring.  This ring was sold by the OK Reisinger Jewelry and Gif Shop  Now watch for the wedding bells 'ere long.  But in the meantime just put your peepers on the wagging tongues as the curious dames try to 'figger' out just who the prospective bride is to be."

Mom and Dad were married Jan 1, 1933 and after a year or so moved to Springfield.  Mom and Dad welcomed 4 children and gave us a great start to life.

Mom was such a good cook, always seemed to have that smile,  kept us in line and tried to teach us manners.  She helped to raise a huge garden and canned what wasn't eaten fresh.  Our house was filled with relatives for each holiday.

Mom was always associated with church activities. A cradle roll certificate has Florence Louise Stone enrolled in the Cradle Roll Department of the ME Church of Hendley, Nebraska on Dec 27, 1908. Throughout her life Mom was very active in Methodist Church activities.  A picture of the summer Ozark Wesleyan Institute in August of 1930 in Cathage MO has her seated in the second row.  Her  membership and activities involved in the Broadway Methodist Church were highlights of her life.  She taught Sunday School, sang in the choir,  was a lifetime member of the women's group and was even treasurer for the church at one time.

Beginning in 1967 Mom was a volunteer with the Burge-Presbeterian Hospital auxiliary (now Cox North Hospital) and contributed over 14,000 faithful hours.

Mom loved poetry, music and reading. She loved to play Scrabble and could always beat me.  She loved her family and was always happiest when they were all around.  We tried to all gather at special occasions and especially her birthday.  She always said she just enjoyed sitting and listening to all the conversations.  After Dad died in August 1977, she showed such strength, living alone until her death in September, 2002 at the age of 93.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!