Mildred E. Pence

Mildred E. Pence was born on November 28, 1932, at Gorin, Missouri.  She left

this world on December 2, 2020.  She was the youngest child of Franklin Snider

and Ora Howard Erickson.  Mildred married her high school sweetheart,

Don Pence, on November 4, 1951, at the Methodist Church in Gorin,

Missouri.  In 1953, Mildred and Don established their home west of Memphis,

and lived the rest of their lives there, taking great pride in their farm and family.

Mildred attended the Cedar Grove School in rural Scotland County, walking a fair

distance to meet the bus to the school and then back home, and was the fastest

runner in her class during grade school. She was very active in the Cedar Grove 4-

H and, among other things, became an accomplished seamstress through those

activities and the lessons from her mother. She was able to design and sew her

own wedding dress, several bridesmaid dresses, matching square dance outfits,

and clothing and accessories of all types for every member of her family. In 2019,

Mildred contacted family members and old friends to round up materials for a 4-H

display at the Antique Days. It was a project she took on with gusto and seemed to

grow with each person she reconnected with.

Having spent her entire 88 years in Scotland County, Mildred graduated from

Gorin High School in 1950, and she was a faithful member of the Memphis

United Methodist Church as long as her health allowed. She was very involved with activities there, including meal preparations for groups at the church, and bible school. As a Gorin graduate, the annual Gorin Alumni Banquet was a highlight of every October.

When the kids were all in school, Mildred commuted daily to Kirksville to attend

Kirksville College of Cosmetology and became a licensed hair dresser. At the

same time, she and Don built a new house on their farm, using plans she designed

and drew, and a neighbor, Les Prather, as the builder.  This new home included

her beauty shop, The Country Cut and Curl, which she then operated for many

years.  Mildred also was employed outside of the home in earlier years at a bank in

Memphis and in insurance sales with her husband.  In addition to involvement with a wide variety of their kids' activities, Mildred and Don were active members of the Kalico Klickers Square Dance Club at Bloomfield, Iowa.  She also travelled

many miles on the back of Don's Honda Goldwing, seeing several states and

sights.

Since Don's death on February 9, 2017, Mildred continued to live on the family

farm, in spite of many health issues, and with the constant care and attention of

Mitchell and Kathy Pence.  Being a farmer and keeping up with the day-to-day

activities there were her pride and joy. Continued heart issues and a fall in her

home on October 2, led to her final health challenges, and resulted in

hospitalizations at Columbia and Memphis, and finally at the Scotland County

Care Center in November, 2020. Needing health care in the midst of the Covid-19

pandemic posed severe and unknown obstacles, and no doubt hastened her death,

with its isolation and restrictions on the time her family and friends could spend

with her. Her family is grateful for the guidance and care received from the

administrators, doctors, nurses, therapists, and all healthcare workers in Scotland

County. Seeing familiar faces in the facilities was some comfort for Mildred when

family and friends could not be with her.

Preceding her in death are, her husband, Don, her sister, Beulah Davis (and her husband, Robert), her brother, Harley Erickson (and his wife, Janet), her brother-in-law, Jim Monroe, and her sisters-in-law, (Don's siblings) Dalee Droege, Jean Armstrong, and Leanna Jo Garrett.

Mildred and Don have three children who survive: Phyllis Allsbury and herhusband, Richard, of Jefferson City, MO; Eric Pence and his wife, Karen, of

Ashland, MO; and Mitchell Pence and his wife, Kathy, of Memphis, MO. They

also have six grandchildren: Landon Pence and his wife, Alyssa, of Kirksville,

MO; Melia Pence Breed and her husband, Mack, of Kansas City, MO; Laura

Pence, of Myrtle Beach, SC; Alaina Allsbury, of Jefferson City, MO; Lane Pence

of Memphis, MO; and Adam Allsbury, of Jefferson City, MO. And, Mildred's two

great grandchildren, Harper Devin and Ryan Carol, are the daughters of Landon

and Alyssa Pence, of Kirksville, MO.  Mildred is survived by one sister, Vera Monroe, of Memphis, MO along with several nieces, nephews, and she

enjoyed keeping up with all of them through the years.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Gorin Cemetery, the Memphis

United Methodist Church or the charity of your choice in care of Payne's

Please sign the guest register.

Funeral services for Mildred E. Pence, 88, of Memphis, Missouri will be held at the chapel on Sunday, 12/6, at 2:00 P.M. Officiating the service will be Pastor Mary Lou Toft.  Interment will follow in the Gorin Cemetery at Gorin.

Visitation is scheduled from 1:00 P.M. Sunday, 12/6, until the time of service at @ 2:00 P.M.

Social distancing will be practiced as well as other hygeine measures. Masks will be available if desired.

Be Safe

Please sign the guest register.
Visitation
1 Hour before the service on Sunday 12/6
Chapel Service
Sunday at 2:00 P.M.  12/6
Interment
Gorin Cemetery,  Gorin, Missouri
Memorial Contributions
Memphis United Methodist Church / Gorin Cemetery Association
or the donors choice % Payne's To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mildred E. Pence, please visit our flower store.