Louise Hargens

Louise Hargens, 105, of Cape Girardeau passed away Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019, at Chateau Girardeau.

She was born Aug. 30, 1914 ,in Damon, a small rural village between Piedmont and Patterson, Missouri. She was the daughter of James Madison and Lula Kavanaugh Horne.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Eldred G. Hargens; and a son, Roger K. Hargens. She was the fourth of five children and the last survivor.

Louise graduated from Patterson High School in 1932 as valedictorian of her class. That many years ago, you could teach in Missouri schools if you could pass the state teacher's examination. After passing this, she taught all eight grades in Wayne County for three years. She then enrolled in Southeast Missouri State Teachers College (now Southeast Missouri State University) in Cape Girardeau, where she earned a 60-hour teaching certificate. The following year, she was employed as second-grade teacher at Annapolis, Missouri -- their only teacher without a degree -- where she taught two more years.

While in college at Cape Girardeau, she met Eldred G. Hargens, and they were married three years later on Aug. 26, 1939. They traveled to Indiana, where she planned to continue teaching while Eldred earned a degree in mechanical engineering. When she contacted the Indiana superintendent of schools, she was told abruptly that a married woman's place was in the home.

She was finally employed in sales, but was told by the personnel manager not to wear her wedding ring at work because her manager would be unhappy she had hired a married woman. She successfully kept this employment, and her husband graduated during World War II and had a choice of jobs. In as much as both of their families lived in the Midwest, he accepted an opening at Monsanto Chemical Company in St. Louis.

Louise managed a sub-post office there until she became a mother. From then on, she stayed home and reared their two sons until the youngest was in ninth grade. She had always wanted to finish her degree, so at this time she enrolled in Webster College (now also a university) and earned a Bachelor of Arts in education in 1965. They lived in Kirkwood, Missouri, and because there was a shortage of teachers, she was employed immediately by the Kirkwood School District, where she taught for 13 more years. She retired from their Keysor Elementary School after having completed 18 years in the teaching profession. Following her retirement, she substituted all over the district to earn enough money to draw the minimum Social Security. She maintained her membership in her professional organizations: Missouri Retired Teachers Association, Classroom Teachers Association and held a life membership in the Missouri State Teachers Association.

Louise was an active member in several United Methodist churches in Missouri: Shaw Avenue in St. Louis, Kirkwood United Methodist Church in Kirkwood, Harper Chapel in Osage Beach, New McKendree in Jackson and Centenary in Cape Girardeau. She held various offices in these churches, including being on the official board at New McKendree. At Shaw Avenue, she was president of the young married couple's class, and later became their Sunday school teacher. She was a good speaker and gave many programs. Most of her church service was in the United Methodist Women's Organization. She held every office in the general U.M.W. except treasurer and president. She was recording secretary at most of these churches. The year she was to have served as president in Kirkwood, she had an accident and received a concussion. Her Kirkwood U.M.W. awarded her a life membership pin that year. She served in most of the U.M.W. small circle groups most years as chairwoman, co-chairwoman or recording secretary.

Louise was civic minded and belonged to the Thursday Study Club, a Federated Women's Club, the Kirkwood Book Club and several Federated Garden Clubs. She supported political organizations, especially Judicial Watch and the Heritage Foundation, both government groups. She was a music lover and bought season tickets to the Cape Girardeau Community Concerts until this organization became non-existent. She was disappointed when her membership in the Executive Club ceased because it also failed to be operative. She maintained memberships in both the Southeast and Saint Francis hospital foundations, was a life member of the Southeast Missouri State University Alumni Association and belonged to its Copper Dome Society.

At the age of 92, she was catapulted off a treadmill set at 5 miles per hour and received a bad shoulder break. She amazed everyone, including her surgeon, Dr. Kapp, and her occupational therapist, Julie Findley, by regaining the full use of that arm. In addition to their expertise, she credited her full recovery to her intestinal fortitude and the daily care and guidance of a Higher Power.

Louise was a Baptist before marriage, so after her husband's death, she returned to the Baptist faith. At the time of her death, she was a member of Lighthouse Bible Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau.

Her body is being donated to Washington University Medical School in St. Louis for research.

Survivors include a son, Lloyd B. Hargens of St. Louis; grandchildren, Bryant E. Hargens, Jeffrey J. Hargens and Blaire F. Hargens; eight beloved nieces and nephews; and sister-in-law, Bernice Suits.

A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Chateau Girardeau's activity room on the first floor. Light refreshments will be served following the service.

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

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.