Nellie Gage

Nellie L. Morgan Gage, 91, of Scott City died Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010, at the Lutheran Home Assisted Living Facility in Cape Girardeau.

She was born March 18, 1918, in Datto, Ark., to the late C.E. and Pearl E. Fears Morgan. On Sept. 5, 1942 she married Edward "Jack" Gage. He preceded her in death Aug. 25, 1996.

In 1935, Gage moved to the Lusk Chapel Community in Scott County and worked at the Brown Shoe Co. in Charleston, Mo. She was a member of Lusk Chapel United Methodist Church, transferring her membership to the Charleston United Methodist Church when the Lusk Chapel Church closed.

She and her husband lived in Diehlstadt, Mo., before moving to Commerce, Mo., in 1953, and then to Scott City in 1955. She assisted her husband in the operation of their family farm until her retirement in 1983. Gage was known by many for her exceptional cooking skills and was affectionately named "the queen of cakes."

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Mickey and Barbara Gage of Jefferson City, Mo.; two brothers, Floyd E. Morgan of Gorham, Ill., and Robert Morgan of Diehlstadt; four sisters, Lela L. Guthrey of Corning, Ark., Vena N. Daughhetee, Dorothy McDowell and Mary Bonifield all of Charleston, Mo.; and a granddaughter, Sarah Gage of Canton, Conn.

She is preceded in death by three brothers, Warren "Jake" Morgan, Charles Morgan and Merlin Morgan.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Dan Faust, pastor of the Charleston United Methodist Church, officiating.

Burial will follow in the IOOF Cemetery under the direction of McMikle Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Tom Daughhetee, Charlie Butler, Kenny Morgan, Bobby Morgan, Adam Daughhetee, David McDowell, Caleb Daughhetee, Don McDowell and Don Gage.

Memorial contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church, 1700 E. Marshall St., Charleston, MO 63834.

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