Katherine Madeline (Monroe) Ewing
Katherine Madeline (Monroe) Ewing, 92, of Memphis, Missouri, died in her home on August 14, 2013.
She was born June 2, 1921, near Gorin, Scotland County, Missouri, the daughter of Fred D. and Ethel Blanche (Raine) Monroe.
Madeline attended grade school and high school at Gorin, and graduated in 1939. Following graduation, she worked for the P.C. Robinson Telephone Company, and later at the United States Post Office, both in Gorin.
She married Clark Baldwin Ewing on July 26, 1942, in the Gorin Methodist Church parsonage. Clark was the son of Nick Bland and Bessie Vernon (Cox) Ewing of near Rutledge. After their marriage, they lived in Lincoln and Ainsworth, Nebraska, where Clark was employed by Green Construction Company of Des Moines, Iowa. Clark entered the U.S. Army in December 1942, and Madeline returned to Gorin, to live with her parents. There she resumed her employment with the United States Post Office. Upon Clark’s military discharge in 1945, they moved to Lancaster, Texas, where Clark was employed in construction. In 1946, they moved to a farm north of Rutledge. There they were co-owners with Vernon Bounds Ewing in farming and Ewing Brothers Land Improvement Contractors. Upon the death of her husband in December 1990, Madeline moved to Memphis, but continued the farming operation.
She made her profession of faith at the Gorin Methodist Church at the age of 13, and as an adult, became a member of the Gorin Baptist Church, where she remained a faithful member until her death.
Madeline became a member of the Gorin Chapter #139 of the Order of the Eastern Star in 1940, where she served as Worthy Matron. When the Gorin Chapter merged with Rutledge Chapter #343, she continued to serve faithfully as an officer. She was a charter member of the Leslie-Chambers American Legion Auxiliary in Gorin. Madeline served on several committees of the Missouri Chapter of the Land Improvement Contractors of America Women’s Auxiliary.
She is survived by two daughters: Elaine Forrester, and her husband, Sterling, of Memphis; and Janet Deaton, and her husband, Don, of Huntsville, Alabama; two granddaughters: Angela (Forrester) Westhoff, and her husband, Scott, of Memphis; and Alisa (Forrester) Kigar, and her husband, Jim, of Bible Grove; four great-grandchildren: Megan (Westhoff) Hamilton, and her husband, Kenneth, of Maryville; Shelby Westhoff of Memphis; and Eli and Elsie Kigar, of Bible Grove; and one great-great-granddaughter: Harper Madelynn Hamilton, of Maryville.
Other survivors include her cousins: Rose Fishback, of Kirksville; Peggy Jean South of Overland Park, Kansas; and Norman Briscoe, of Williamstown.
Funeral services were held August 18 at the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Gorin, with Mike Wilson, pastor of the Richland Baptist Church, and Shawn McAfee, pastor of the Peaksville Christian Church, officiating. Marsha Davis and Terry Sommers played four musical selections. Angela Westhoff, Megan Hamilton and Shelby Westhoff provided a special musical tribute to Madeline. Pallbearers were Rowe Burton Ewing, Rex Ewing, Andy Ewing, Scott Westhoff, Jim Kigar, and Jamie Triplett. Honorary pallbearers were Duane Arnold, Guy Gardine, Larry Riney, Ronnie Boyer, Alvin Howard, Hollie Boyer, Kristy Eggleston-Wood, Tasha Eggleston-Wood, Taylor Eggleston-Wood, Kenneth Hamilton, and Eli Kigar.
Burial was in the Gorin Cemetery.
Memorials have been suggested to the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Gorin or the Scotland County Senior Nutrition Center in Memphis.
Condolences may be sent to Madeline’s family by signing the guestbook at gerthfuneralservice.com.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Gerth Funeral Service.
