Irene Popp

Irene E. Popp, 95, passed away Sunday, June 24, 2007, at Chateau Girardeau.

Born April 26, 1912, in Vicksburg, Miss., to John and Ida Hammett Henderson, she married John W. Popp Jan. 20, 1935, in Kansas City, Mo. They made their lifetime home in Cape Gir­ar­deau.

Irene graduated as a registered nurse from Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. She served at Southeast Missouri Hospital several years. Thereafter she volunteered in the Emergency Room, OB Ward at Southeast Hospital, and with the local Red Cross many years.

Working with her husband, she served as secretary/treasurer of Georgell Investments 40 years in the commercial retail development along Plaza Way adjacent to the Town Plaza Shopping Center, retiring in 2000.

She was a First Baptist Church member 60 years, serving as WMU president, Sunday school teacher and officer. In recent years she attended First General Baptist Church.

Community service included GFWC Quest Club, River Hills Garden Club, Nancy Hunter Chapter of DAR, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Southeast Hospital Retired Nurses, and various positions at Chateau Gir­ardeau including writing for the Oak Leaves there.

Preceding her in death was a sister, Catherine; her parents; a daughter, Betsy; husband, John; and a son, George.

She is survived by a son, John Jr. (Barbara) of Jackson; a daughter, Cathi Smith of Baton Rouge, La; grandchildren, Steve (Terri), David (Linda), Betty Schultz (Norman), Chris (Dee Dee) Smith, Kevin (Jenny) Smith; great-grandchildren, Janice (Bryan), Blake (Lauren), Norman, Earl, David Jr., Matt, Amelia, Elliot, Ian and Alex; great-great-grandchildren, London, Sydney, Evan and Owen.

Visitation will begin at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at First General Baptist Church, 1812 Cape LaCroix Road.

The funeral will begin at 1 p.m. at the church. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park, with Sam Ramdial officiating.

Please send any memorials to Mid-America Teen Challenge, 303 MATC Lane, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63701, or Gideons International Memorial Bible Program, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, Tenn., 37214.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.