Esther Rainwater

ADVANCE -- Esther Mae Rainwater, 83, of Advance died Saturday, March 12, 2005, at the Advance Nursing Center.

She was born Nov. 19, 1921, in Greenville, Mo., daughter of the late Thomas Harley and Mary Elizabeth Craig VanMatre. She and the Rev. Roscoe Rainwater were united in marriage Aug. 1, 1941, at Wappapello, Mo. He died July 6, 1987.

Rainwater was a homemaker and a member of Brush Creek Baptist Church near Zalma.

Survivors include five sons, Tom Rainwater of Greenfield, Tenn., Bob and Marvin Rainwater, both of Puxico, Mo., Garry Rainwater of Advance, and Jim Rainwater of Centerville, Mo.; a daughter, Kay Rainwater of York, Penn.; a son-in-law, Marvin Meloy of Coldwater, Mo.; a sister, Nettie Lou Magill of Noble, Ill.; 19 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a son, William Larry Rainwater; a daughter, Esther Darlene Meloy; a daughter-in-law, Charlotte Rainwater; a brother; and three sisters.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Morgan Funeral Chapel in Advance.

The funeral will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at the chapel with the Rev. Bill Sargent officiating. Burial will be at New Prospect Cemetery in Silva, Mo.