Louise Wilson 1938-2018

Louise Wilson, age 80, of Columbia, Missouri, formerly of Shelbyville, Missouri, passed away Saturday, March 31, 2018 at Boone Hospital, in Columbia, Missouri.

Louise Wilson

She was born March 2, 1938 in Shelby County, Missouri, the daughter of William Henry and Mattie Ruth (Farrell) Jones. She was united in marriage to Paul Wilson on June 12, 1960 at the First Christian Church in Shelbina. Paul preceded her in death on October 29, 2013.

Louise is survived by her two children, Diana McCartney and husband Patrick of Ashland, Missouri, and Robert Wilson and wife Kristin of Franklin, Kentucky; six grandchildren, Brandy Clark and husband David, Katy Reeder and husband Cole, Dustin Latchford and wife Danielle, David Holland, Dannar and Bailey Wilson; four great-grandchildren, Mason Higgins, Myles Clark, Adley Reeder, and Raylen Reeder; one brother-in-law, Jim Wilson and wife Glenna of Shelbyville, Missouri; nephew, Mark Wilson and wife Susan; and two nieces, Brenda Nelson and husband Travis and Amy Dwiggins and husband Caleb.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and one son, William Michael Wayne Wilson.

Louise graduated in 1956 from Shelbina High School and then attended Gem City Business College. After college, she worked at MoorMan’s in Quincy, Illinois. Once marrying Paul, she worked as a mother, wife, and homemaker until her kids were out of school. She started her career with the United States Postal Department in 1983 as a clerk in Hannibal, Missouri and relocated as a clerk at the Shelbyville Post Office. She then worked as an officer in charge of several post offices in the surrounding areas before she became the Postmaster of Shelbyville on December 2, 1989, and served as a Postmaster Training Coordinator. She retired from the Postal Department in April of 2001.

Louise volunteered her extra time to work at the Hannibal Post Office during the Flood of 1993 so mail could stay on the Missouri side and be delivered. She was very active in the National Association of Postmasters of the United States, where she served on the Political Action Committee as chairman of the state of Missouri. She also was a member of the Postal Woman’s Organization and active in Farm Bureau at the state and local level. Louise was a longtime member of the General Federation of Women’s Club of Shelbyville, Missouri and served as President from 2008 to 2010. She held several district offices and served as the State Legislature Chairman for the GFWC.

Louise was a 4-H leader, a member of the RFD extension club for many years and served on the University of Missouri-Extension Council. She received the National Safety Council Award for safety with extension homemakers. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star Shelbina 159, where she filled several chair positions over the years. Louise was involved in the Old Settler’s Committee and started the first car show at the Old Settlers. She and Paul served as the 2013 Old Settlers Grand Marshals.

In May of 2000, Louise was first diagnosed with cancer and again in 2004 was diagnosed with breast cancer. During that time, she received a prayer quilt from her daughter’s church, Peace United Church of Christ. On the quilt were tied knots, which each knot represented a prayer. That left an impression on Louise so much that she started the prayer quilts at the First Christian Church in Shelbina. She continued making prayer quilts for many years and sent out hundreds of them to people of need. Due to her efforts, several other churches started similar acts of kindness. She attended Peace United Church of Christ in Hartburg, Missouri.

Most of all, Louise loved her family. She especially cherished her time spent with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10 am on Wednesday, April 4, 2018, at the Greening-Eagan-Hayes Funeral Home in Shelbina, Missouri. A visitation will be held Tuesday evening from 4 pm to 7pm at the funeral home. Burial will be held in the Mt. Hope Cemetery, north of Lentner, Missouri following the service. Memorials may be made to Peace United Church of Christ Caring Ministry or the Paul and Louise Wilson Memorial Scholarship.