News from us

SPRING 2024 RETIREE NEWSLETTER

Greetings Missouri Conference Retirees! Keep scrolling to read about what you've been up to since the fall. May these stories provide a bright spot in your day and invite you to connect with one another to continue sharing encouragement and hope.

Church Triumphant

Clergy and clergy spouses that have gone on to glory:

Joy Phillips, Aug. 10, 1930 - Oct. 14, 2023
Rev. Dr. Murrell Cunningham, July 14, 1933 - Oct. 29, 2023
Rev. James Ireland, Nov. 20, 1940 - Nov. 8, 2023
Dorothy Guese, Oct. 2, 1931 - Nov. 9, 2023
Rev. Thomas Zych, Jan. 24, 1940 - Nov. 11, 2023
Jeanette Dimond, July 1, 1934 - Nov. 15, 2023
Rev. Gary Metcalf, Dec. 1, 1943 - Nov. 23, 2023
Vera Moger, April 10, 1936 - Dec. 5, 2023
Rev. Carol Buhrle, March 20, 1943 - Dec. 9, 2023
Rev. Dr. Marjean Ehlers, Feb. 13, 1950 - Dec. 18, 2023
Nan Wilson, June 10, 1941 - Dec. 26, 2023
Rev. Jimmy L. Young, Feb. 14, 1935 - Jan. 3, 2024
Rev. Kathleen Schmidtke, Nov. 30, 1953 - Jan. 4, 2024
Rev. Marcia Nadine Thurman, Aug. 8, 1928 - Jan. 8, 2024
Rev. John "Jack" Ketcher, Oct. 12, 1935 - Jan. 31, 2024
Dorothy Findley, Feb. 19, 1932 - Feb. 1, 2024
Rev. Dr. Don Ruthenberg, Jan. 7, 1930 - Feb. 2, 2024
R. Elaine Kidwell, March 2, 1937 - Feb. 14, 2024

Shirley Flude Needels, March 17, 1941 - Feb. 28, 2024

Rev. James "Jim" Glass, April 3, 1939 - March 7, 2024
Rev. Wilma Carr, Dec. 11, 1927 - March 8, 2024
Rev. Janet Hopkins, Feb. 5, 1947 - March 19, 2024
Rev. Jane Crooks, April 6, 1941 - March 29, 2024
Rev. Terrell "Nick" Perry, July 2, 1943 - April 13, 2024
Rev. Creighton Cox, Nov. 8, 1944 - April 15, 2024

Gleanings From Around the Conference

Janet Kohler - A Brief Update for Busy Times
My daughter is in the hospital for a bone marrow transplant. I am busy caring for two grandchildren. I am active in a local United Methodist Church.

Greg Weeks - Writing and Traveling
Enjoying my dual jobs of writing some Bible study curriculum for Cokesbury and helping my wife with her antiques business.

Larry Williams - Traversing the Open Road
To celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary, Sally and I traversed the country using highways US 40 and I-40.

Wesley Ummel - Greetings from Arkansas
We are doing well. We are active at the First UMC in the county seat town of Morrilton, Arkansas. We live close to our son Jim. We enjoy contacts with our Missouri Conference friends.

David Scott - Healing Up After Surgery
After retiring last summer, Lori and I have settled in Springfield, Missouri. Both of us are enjoying reconnection with many friends from our school days.

Ruth Ann Edwards - Keeping Busy with Two Youngsters
I have retired in Belle, Missouri. On Dec. 19, 2015, I adopted two children: Gabby, age three, and Grayson, age six months old.

Sally Haynes - Getting Involved on Sanibel Island
I'm happily enjoying life as a new retiree on Sanibel Island, Florida. The repairs to our house from having taken on six feet of sea water during Hurricane Ian were finally completed.

Toni and David Dee - Retiring for Real
Hello to all of you, sorry it has been so long since talking to you. I finally "really" retired in July 2022 from Morehouse, Missouri.

Paul Jones - Come Visit Us at Hermitage Spiritual Retreat Center
I am 94 now, and while slowing, I remain healthy enough to maintain my present calling as Resident Director of the Hermitage Spiritual Retreat Center, on the shore of Lake Pomme de Terre in the Missouri Ozarks.

Carolyn McCombs - Moving Into Carthage
I have had a few changes in the last year. First of all, we built our house and tamed the land on our small acreage out in the country almost 20 years ago.

Click here to view all Retiree Newsletter posts