Laura Rhame

Laura Chambers Rhame, 92, of Maumelle, Ark., formerly of Cape Girardeau, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012, at Parkway Health Center in Little Rock, Ark.

She was born July 23, 1920, in Bricksboro, N.J., to Anthony and Ada Chambers.

Laura was a member of Calvary Nazarene Church. She also loved Parkway Place Baptist Church, where her grandson, Greg Kelley, is on the pastoral staff.

She is survived by a daughter, Carolyn Kelley and husband Ted of Maumelle; a son, Paul Rhame and wife Jana of Festus, Mo.; six grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, the Rev. John Rhame; five sisters and two brothers.

Laura and Rhame were married Aug. 15, 1936. He was a speaker and musician in the Nazarene denomination. They traveled the next eight years to speaking engagements in 140-plus cities throughout the country before they were called to build a church in Sebring, Fla.

They pastored in Sebring and Miami, Syracuse, N.Y., Memphis, Tenn., Jasper, Ala., Tyler, Texas, Sikeston, Mo., and Phoenix before retiring in Cape Girardeau, where Laura resided until 2004 when she moved to Maumelle to live with her daughter and son-in-law.

Throughout the years, Laura served as church pianist, Sunday school teacher, missionary president and youth worker. Upon their move to Cape Girardeau, she worked at J.C. Penney until the death of her husband in 1986.

After his death, she became a volunteer at Saint Francis Medical Center. In 2004 she received the Distinguished Service Award, the highest award given from Nazarene Headquarters in Kansas City.

Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to service time Saturday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

A celebration of her life will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Graveside rites will be held at Cape County Memorial Park, with the Rev. Kelley officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to either the Pension and Benefits USA, Church of the Nazarene, 17001 Prairie Star Parkway, Lenexa, KS 66220, or Pursuit Class at Parkway Place Baptist Church, 300 Parkway Place Drive, Little Rock, AR 72211.

Special thanks to Baptist Hospice Care.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.