Flora Ellen Harris Asa
Flora Ellen Harris Asa, 95, of Crossville, Tenn., formerly of Du Quoin, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013 at the Life Care of Crossville, Tenn.
She was born on Aug. 14, 1917 at Jackson County, Ill., the daughter of James Richard and Effie May (Wheeler) Harris. She was sister to Richard, Florence, Herman, Truman, Roy, James and two lost in infancy. She attended elementary school in Murphysboro and survived the Tri-State Tornado of 1925. She remarked about that day that 'they opened the doors of the school when it was over to see complete destruction' and then were dismissed to find their way where even the streets were obliterated. Her father and two brothers were working down in the mine and unaware of the storm, when they came up and began searching for her it would be the next day before she was discovered at an outlying farm where some of the children had wandered. Their home was destroyed, but the family all survived.
She married James William Asa on Sept. 13, 1934 and they had two children, Billie Dean and Lora Ellen. They made their home in Du Quoin in 1944 and remained happily married for over 50 years until James passed in 1985.
Miss Flora, or more often called 'Asa' among her friends and co-workers, was a nurse at Marshall Browning Hospital for many years, retiring to private duty. She was a lifelong Methodist and a member of the First United Methodist Church for over 50 years.
She loved gardening and grew beautiful roses, new cuttings were always getting their starts beneath the mason jars that dotted the flower beds. She was admired by friends and family alike for her kitchen skills, especially her carrot cake and her chili sauce, which she made in abundance to share. She loved to have family gatherings and picnics under the big trees in her back yard in the summer.
But the most important things that she shared with all of us was the example of what an upright life and doing the right thing meant; she was honest and kind and kept her faith squarely in God. She was a good neighbor, loving wife, mother and grandmother who watched over all of us, picked us up and set us squarely on steady feet when we needed it and loved us all unconditionally. She will be greatly missed.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son, all of her siblings, and two grandchildren - Susan Asa Boswell and Patrick Asa.
She is survived by her daughter - Lora Ellen Asa Waller of Tennessee, eight grandchildren - Anna Strong of Tennessee, Christopher Waller of Florida, Kelly Van Howe, William Asa, Patricia Messer, Sandra Harris, Michael Asa and Beth Williams, all of Illinois, 23 great grandchildren and eight great great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013 at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin with the family conducting the service. Rev. Scott Baird will be conducting the committal service.
Friends may call from 1 p.m. until the time of service on Saturday at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin.
Burial will be in the De Soto Cemetery at De Soto, Ill.
For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.