Johnsie Mahala Coats, daughter of Wilson and Phamy Coats, was born February 28, 1872, in Arkansas; departed this life February 2, 1957, at Houston, Mo., making her age at time of death 84 years, 11 months and 2 days.
She was married to Fred W. Florida, November 22, 1891. To this union two sons were born, Harry Bland and William Leslie Florida. Her husband preceded her in death November 16, 1931.
On November 17, 1936, she was married to Henry Schindler. He preceded her in death November 5, 1946. One son, William Leslie, and a granddaughter, Delores June Florida, also preceded her in death. She leaves to mourn her passing, one son, Harry B. Florida of Oklahoma City, Okla.; one grandson, Leslie Gene Florida, and two great grandsons of Lansing, Mich.; one brother, T. K. Coats, Clara, Mo.; four nieces and two nephews.
She accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age and united with the Union Baptist Church, later moving her membership to the Houston Baptist Church. While health permitted she was active in church work, always loyal to her Savior and her church. She was a faithful member of the Eureka Rebekah Lodge No. 21, and will be sadly missed by fellow members. All the years of a full life she was considerate of others and loved her family and friends unselfishly. Her friendly spirit won her many friends and it was a joy to meet and visit with her. Family and friends will mourn her passing from our midst.
Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock, at the Houston Baptist Church, conducted by the Pastor, Rev. E. G. Walker. Pall-bearers were George Harmom, Walter Redmon, W. P. Cole, Chas. Elmore, Farrell Jarvis and Ansel Coats. Songs were rendered by Max Burkhead with Mrs. Don Burch as accompanist. Organ music was furnished by Mrs. Earl Burnett. Burial was in Ozark Cemetery with members of Eureka Rebekah Lodge No. 21 officiating at the graveside service. Elliott Funeral Home was in charge of the funeral.
Out-of-town relatives attending the funeral were: the son, Harry B. Florida, and Mrs. Florida, of Oklahoma City; a niece, Mrs. Lillie Garrett, and her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Shope, all of Guthrie, Okla; and Mrs. Ruth Jackson of St. Louis.
Dolores June Florida was born to Mr. and Mrs. Harry Florida September 26, 1930, in Oklahoma City. She passed away March 26, 1949, at her home in Oklahoma City.
Dolores had suffered from a heart disease all of her life. Her parents had gone to a grocery store about 8:30 the morning of her death, and when they returned at 10:30 they found her slumped in a chair.
The fire department respirator squad was called but could not revive her. A physician pronounced her dead when he arrived.
Dolores trusted Christ as her Saviour when she was nine years old and had attended Cashion Place (or Palace) Baptist Church and Sunday School since she was a very small girl.
She was a student at Cashion High School where she was a member of the Honor Society.
Survivors other than her parents, is her grandmother, Mrs. Johnsie Schindler, of Houston, (would be MO) who attended the funeral and spent the past two weeks with the parents in Oklahoma City, returning home Monday of this week.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Florida and Dolores had visited in Houston several times and they and Mrs. Schindler have the deepest sympathy of friends here.
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Another small obit
Miss Dolores Florida, 18-years-old granddaughter of Mrs. Johnsie Schindler of Houston, died suddenly March 26, of a heart attack at her home in Oklahoma city. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry B. Florida. Her parents returned home to find her slumped in a chair. Dolores was a high school honor student and would have been graduated in a few weeks. She was a member of Cashion Palace Baptist Church. Mrs. Schindler attended the funeral in Oklahoma city.
Last week The Herald had to hurriedly tell of the terrible accident to Leslie Florida, resulting from a dynamite blast. Mangled and wounded, Leslie was brought to Dr. Herron Wednesday for emergency treatment.
He had gone to some government road project near Ellis Prairie that morning to dynamite stumps. He was putting in a charge at a stump just before noon and was doing the last tamping before quitting for the noon hour. In some unaccountable manner the dynamite was blasted and Leslie was terribly wounded, losing one hand, fingers off the other hand, flesh from one knee blown away, wounded and bruised all over.
After being given emergency treatment by Dr. Herron, he was taken to Christa Hogan Hospital at West Plains, but the shock was too great for the young man and he weakened until he passed away Thursday afternoon. It was a shocking accident for a young man so full of vitality and so eager for work that morning to be crushed and broken and maimed until his last hours were filled with pain and suffering.
The remains were brought back to Elliott Funeral Home and prepared for burial. Funeral under direction of Elliotts was held at the Baptist church Saturday forenoon, funeral sermon by Rev. J. R. Halbrook, in the presence of a large crowd of sorrowing relatives and sympathizing friends. Burial was at Ozark cemetery.
Leslie William Florida, son of Fred (deceased) and Johnsie Florida, was born October 1, 1905, at Bado, Mo.; died at West Plains, Mo., March 28, 1935, making his age 29 years, 5 months and 28 days.
He was married to Ruth L. Gettys at Des Moines, Iowa, May 22, 1926. To this union one child was born, Leslie Gene, now 6 years old.
He was converted at the age of 17 in April, 1922, and joined the Houston Baptist church, where his membership remained until the time of his death.
He leaves to mourn his death, his loving wife and little son, mother, Mrs Johnsie Florida, brother, Harry Florida, many other relatives and friends all over the county.
Leslie's broken body was laid to rest beside his father in Ozark cemetery to await the resurrection, and his passing is deeply regretted by all, who sincerely sympathize with the young wife, the baby boy, mother, brother and all relatives
