Irene V. Steers

Irene V. Steers, 104, of Louisiana, MO, passed away Monday May 27th, 2013, at Lynn's Heritage House in Louisiana. Visitation will be held at the First Christian Church in Louisiana on June 8th, 2013 at 12:00 noon with a celebration of life memorial following at 1:00 P.M. She was born November 16th, 1908 in Caine, Oklahoma to Jefferson B. and Judith O. Jeffries. She had four brothers and one sister. In 1923 the family moved to Missouri in covered wagons. The trip took them one month. She married Albia Lester (Ab) Steers September 22, 1927. He preceded her in death in 1954. She gave birth to three daughters and two sons, all at home. Four without a Doctor. Mrs. Steers is survived by one daughter, Joyce C. Findley and husband Robert of Louisiana, MO, One daughter-in law, Myrtle Steers Thibodeaux (Leroy) Of Vinton, LA, Two Granddaughters, Gena Racine Steers Flaherty (David) of Windom, TX, and Virginia (Ginny) Findley Murray of Spring, TX, Two Granddaughters-in-Law; Kimberly Kay Stoops and Melissa Elaine Stoops of Louisiana, MO, Thirteen Grandsons; Charles Patrick Henderson (Mary) and Richard Lee Henderson of Washington, MO, Ronald Lee McElfresh (Vernelle) of Honolulu, HI, Darrell Dean McElfresh of Edgemont, S.D., Lawrence J. Stoops (Paula) and Jamie D. Stoops (Heather) of Louisiana, MO, Kevin Lee Steers (Melody) of Oklahoma City, OK, Edgar Albia Steers (Tiffany) and Jeffrey Scott Steers (Beth) of Sylacauga, AL, Robert W. Findley (Jonilyn) and Brian W. Findley (Michelle) of Louisiana, MO, Bruce E. Findley of Alvin, TX, 40 Great Grandchildren and 42 Great Great Grandchildren. Five Nieces; Shirley D. Descamp (Vic) of Orofino, ID, Darlene Riley (Raymond) of Roanoke, VA, Donna Steinkamp (Paul) of Quincy, IL, Judee Adair (Bill) of Blue Springs, MO, Sande Holman (Danny) of O'Fallon, MO, Three Nephews; Bobby Joe Jeffries (Sue) of Clarksville, MO, William Jeffries (Nancy) of Springfield, IL, Eldon Steers of Olathe, KS, Also an adopted family, Walter & Cindy Logan, Ben, Beth, Blake and Children. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two daughters; Hazel A. Henderson and husband Bensie L., Iola A. Stoops and husband Billy Joe. Two sons, Edgar H. Steers and wife Shirley and Douglas (Mac) Steers. Grandchildren; William Ben Henderson, Lester O. Henderson, Stephen Ray McElfresh, Graigory Allen McElfresh, Danny Ray Stoops, and Randal Steers. Two Great Great Grandchildren: Alexander and Angel Henderson. One sister, Velma Epperson and husband Marshal. Four brothers and wives; William and Ina, Stephen and Martha, Lewis (Buck) and Martha, and Walter and Arneda Jeffries. Irene and family lived on a farm until 1948 and then moved to town. She and Albia (Ab.), her husband, purchased a restaurant in Louisiana in 1946 called Ab's Cafe and she worked in it with him until he passed away in 1954 and continued to manage it alone until 1963. She worked at Louisiana Plastics for the next 10 years and was required to retire, against her wishes, at age 65. She then worked at other businesses in town for some years. She continued to live in the same house while raising her family and working until after she was 100 years old and could no longer live alone. She was a wonderful cook and homemaker and made fantastic quilts even for people as far away as St. Louis. She made and sent them to all her grandchildren and more until she could no longer pull the needle through the thick material and had to stop quilting when she was about 95 years old. She loved to garden when living in the country and canned everything she could. After moving to town she still bought vegetables and fruit to can and friends would give her some from their gardens and she would can for others when they brought her vegetables and even made her own Jelly and pickles to give to others till age 99. She loved to travel and was always willing to try anything new, like water skiing at age 50, even though she could not swim a stroke. She loved to sing and to dance, and did so, every time she had a chance. She never learned to drive, however, was not a backseat driver and did not care how you drove just as long as you got her there. Irene was a wonderful remarkable lady. She loved everyone and adored babies and children and animals, especially dogs, until her death. She loved to do for others and was a friend with everyone. She kept track of all her relatives and friends, of which she had many, and all their children and grandchildren and sent cards to everyone of them for every birthday, wedding, anniversary, graduation or illness until she could no longer hold a pen to write. She was a Deacon and an Elder in the First Christian Church and she loved all the members and considered them her family. She read and studied her bible every day until she could no longer read because her eyesight failed. She absolutely adored the Mississippi river and talked everyone into taking her down to see it till the day she passed away. She helped in the Louisiana clothing room and the food pantry until she could not lift the boxes of canned goods, around the age of 90. Her family and friends loved her and she loved them back. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her. Memorials may be given to the First Christian Church in Louisiana or the Jordan-Buffalo Cemetery in care of Collier Funeral Homes, Inc., 117 Barnard Drive, Louisiana, Missouri 63353.

Irene V. Steers

November 16, 1908 - May 27, 2013