Bernice Wagner

Freda "Bernice" Wagner, 91, died Saturday evening, March 19, 2016, at the Lutheran Home, Assisted Living West.

She was born Feb. 9, 1925, in Lyman, Mississippi, the daughter of Clarence Ross and Laura Augusta Thurmond Latham.

She was married June 29, 1946, in Cape Girardeau to Delmar Andward Wagner.

Bernice was a 1941 graduate of Morehouse High School near Sikeston, Missouri. She attended the former Steimle Business College in Cape Girardeau and was a member of the Zeta lota Business Sorority. She worked initially for Metropolitan Insurance Co., then Capaha Loan and Finance and later for Riverside Lumber Co. as an office manager.

She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church for many years. When she retired, her family moved to a small farm near Whitewater, where they joined the Whitewater Methodist Church. She returned to Cape Girardeau in recent years and joined her many friends at the Emerald Street First Church of God.

Bernice had a strong faith in God and was a kind and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She had many lifelong friends who will miss her. She enjoyed all facets of quilt making and has made many beautiful quilts that were given as gifts to family and friends. She loved reading, cooking and gardening and spent many happy hours in her flower and vegetable gardens.

She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Kathy Wagner of Jackson; a granddaughter and husband, Dr. Hope C. Beatte and Brian Beatte of Aurora, Colorado; a grandson and wife, Andrew K. Wagner, R.A. (registered architect) and Bethany Claff Wagner of Haddon Township, New Jersey; a sister, Loretta Crenshaw of Sikeston; and three great-grandchildren, Quinn Beatte and Laird Beatte of Aurora and Lola Wagner of Haddon Township. She also is survived by many special nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Anita Marie Parrish, who died Feb. 12, 2007; her husband, Delmar A. Wagner, who died Nov. 4, 2007; and two brothers, Ray and Merrill Latham.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home. Funeral service will follow at 6 p.m. at the funeral home, with Pastor Robert Hendrix officiating.

Private burial will take place at Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in the form of donations are suggested to the Emerald Street First Church of God, 500 Emerald St., Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.

Online condolences may be made at fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.