I am the resurrection,
and the life:
he that believeth in me,
though he were dead, 
yet shall he live:
And whosoever liveth
and believeth in me
shall never die.
Believeth thou this? 

John 11:25, 26

   Maude Lee Surls, 64, of Mexico, died at 12:39 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 31, 2004, at her home.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2004, at Pickering Funeral Home in Mexico with the Revs. Todd Walker and James Palmer officiating. Visitation will be Monday 6 until 8 p.m. There will be an Eastern Star service at 8 p.m.

Mrs. Surls was born on Nov. 12, 1939 in Mexico, the daughter of Thomas and Lenora (Meteer) Coldwell. On Sept. 29, 1961, in Mexico she married Donald Allen Surls who died Nov. 30, 2000.

Maude was very active in her work for the Lord. She was a member of Union Baptist Church where she served as President of the W.M.U. She was the director of the Audrain Association of W.M.U. and was actively involved in the Audrain Baptist Association. She worked as a volunteer for numerous years at Camp Cedarcrest. She was a volunteer at Auxvasse Elementary School. Maude was a member of the Mexico Golden K Kiwanis Club and a member of the Eastern Star Chapter #35 in Fulton. She worked for more than 30 years as bookkeeper at Coldwell Nursing Home.

Survivors include one son, Randy Surls and his wife Arla, Jefferson City; one daughter, Abby Gilpin and her husband Karl, Auxvasse; one sister, Naomi Mills, Mexico; her mother-in-law, Mildred Surls Casner and her husband Dwight, Mexico; one Aunt, Edna Mae Holtkamp, Auxvasse; 5 grandchildren, Derek and Ashley Gilpin, Megan, Brett and Morgan Surls; numerous nieces and nephews; and all of her adopted kids.

 Pickering Funeral Home  
Caring Service Since 1884