Aileen Mantooth

Olive Aileen Russell Mantooth, 86, died Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

She was born to John Calvin and Ora Olive Moore Russell on June 8, 1923, in Matador, Texas. She married William Layfayette "Bill" Mantooth March 16, 1946, in Matador.

A 1940 graduate of Matador High School, she became a registered nurse after graduating from Plainview School of Nursing in 1943. She was then employed by Clovis Memorial Hospital In Clovis, N.M. During this time she was introduced to Sgt. Bill Mantooth of Commerce, Texas, who was stationed at Clovis Army Airfield. They were married five weeks later.

After Bill's discharge from the Army, he began his lifelong career with Texas Southern Railroad, and the couple moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where Aileen served as a surgical nurse in a Tarrant County hospital. Later she was the clinical nurse in the office of Drs. Bob and Martha Chapman in Haltom City, Texas.

Throughout his years with the railroad, the couple was transferred to cities along the company's line such as Jonesboro and Pine Bluff, Ark.; Belleville, Ill.; and finally to Cape Girardeau in 1980. In Cape Girardeau they finally put down roots and decided to stay after Bill's retirement from his job as trainmaster.

The couple enjoyed traveling. Besides Canada and Mexico, they visited 49 of the 50 states and were scheduled to visit the remaining state of Alaska when a sudden illness prevented their departure. They included each of their three nieces on many of their trips. However, when asked about her favorite place to visit, she always answered "home," in reference to her beloved Matador or spending days fishing with her father-in-law, Harvey Mantooth, on the banks of stock tanks near Commerce.

Aileen loved family and family history. Many hours were spent searching courthouse records and historical archives for mention of ancestors, and she and Bill were successful in compiling impressive genealogical records. She eagerly collected and then shared family stories.

Aileen proved family lines to join the Frances Cook Van Zandt Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, the Nancy Hunter Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Huguenot Society and the Colonial Dames. She was a member of Pierce Chastain Family Association, the Oline Chapter, the Gann Family Association and the Rich Family Association.

A woman of faith, Aileen was an active member of Grace United Methodist Church of Cape Girardeau. She was also a member of the Eastern Star.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, John Merwyn Russell of Matador.

Aileen is survived by her husband of 63 years; a sister-in-law, Dorothy Russell of Matador; nieces and their husbands and families Marlynn and Randy Hicks of Matador, Linda and Tom Roy of Weatherford, Texas, and Caron and Jesse Perkins of Odessa, Texas; a nephew and his wife, John Douglas and D'anna Russell of Matador; very special friends, Marilyn and Paul Schnare of Cape Girardeau; Nicole, Gary, Kelsi, Coby and Kory Siebert of Cape Girardeau; and many dear cousins and relations both near and removed.

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. today at Grace United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau.

The funeral will be at 4 p.m. at the church, with the Rev. Tom Sullenger officiating.

A service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church of Matador. Burial will be in East Mound Memorial Cemetery in Matador.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (www.aIzfdn.org), 322 Eighth Ave., 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001, 866-232-8484; the Motley County Library, P.O. Box 557, Matador, TX 79244; or Grace United Methodist Church, Broadway and Caruthers Avenue, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.