Mildred Eileen Luke

(October 18, 1924 February 11, 2011)

Mildred Eileen Luke , 86, passed peacefully into eternal rest on Friday, February 11, 2011, 8:20 P.M. after a lengthy illness.

Services will be held at Pickering Funeral Home on Saturday, February 19, 2011, in Mexico, MO. Visitation will begin at 9:30 A.M. with services to follow at 11:00 A.M. Interment will be in East Lawn Memorial Park immediately following the services. The Rev. Bob Stanford of Rush Hill Community Church will officiate.

Eileen was born October 18, 1924, in Rush Hill, MO to Owen Edwin Maxwell and Macie Marie (Hearn) Maxwell. She graduated from Wellsville High School in 1942. She married Charles Joseph Luke on May 27, 1943. He preceded her in death on July 23, 1992 after 49 years of marriage.

As a homemaker and devoted home-town-girl, she taught Sunday School for many years at the Rush Hill Community Church. She was a member of the Rush Hill Community Center and the Rebekah Lodge Service Organization of Laddonia, MO.

Eileen and her family lived in her early childhood home in Rush Hill, MO since 1944. That is where she planted her cherished Memory Garden of iris and other perennials given to her by her dear mother, dear grandmother, dear aunts, neighbors, and friends. At one time she tended over 400 varieties of iris with her earliest iris dating back to 1923. In an article in the Mexico Ledger Eileen was featured as The Iris Lady of Rush Hill. People came from all over to view her rainbow of colors each spring.

Her other interests and hobbies include working in retail at SAM s Department Store and selling Avon in her community. She enjoyed traveling, dancing, crocheting, needlework, puzzles and reading.

Loving mother to two sons, Charl Gene (Sandra) Luke of Rome, GA and Jerald Dale (Pamela) Luke of O Fallon, MO. Dear grandmother to Charlene (Peter) Rushton of Crown Point, IN; Carla (Kevin) Anderton of Collierville, TN; Carol (Jason) Morris of Lakeland, TN; Steven (Robin) Luke of Silver Creek, GA; Julie (John) FitzSimmons of Columbia, MO; and Amy (David) Busker of Olivette, MO.

Great-grandmother of 13, Griffin and Allyson Rushton; Shelby, Luke and Callie Anderton; Gaven Morris; Tori and Trey Luke; Makenzie and Avery FitzSimmons; and Eva, Paige and Arden Busker. She was a dear aunt, cousin and friend to many.

Eileen was preceded in death by her parents, Owen and Macie Maxwell; her husband, Charles Joseph Luke, and brothers, Owen Gene Maxwell and John Lewis Maxwell.

Pallbearers are Steven Luke, David Busker, John FitzSimmons, Bill Hinson, Kenneth Ray, and Kenneth Davidson.

Honorary Pallbearers are Martin Lee Maxwell, Marvin Davidson and Bill Leach.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Rush Hill Community Church or the Alzheimer s Association and sent in care of Pickering Funeral Home, 403 N Western, Mexico, MO 65265.