Florence Marie Rouse, age 90, passed away Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, in Grapevine, Texas. Services will be Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009, at 2 p.m. at Griffin-Hillcrest Chapel. Interment will be in Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery, Ardmore, Okla.
Marie, as she was known to her closest friends, was born Oct. 15, 1919, in Penile, Texas, to Walton Benton and Vera (Howard) Benton. Her grandfather, Dr. James Washington Benton, delivered her.
Marie had just celebrated 90 years of life in October. She passed on the anniversary of her husband’s death, Leroy Rouse, who passed 20 years ago on Nov. 15, 1989. Marie and Leroy settled in Ardmore in 1950, where she helped her husband run his electrolux cleaner business and was formerly joint owner in R & R Trophies. She loved the outdoors and loved to fish. She was an excellent seamstress and very artistic enjoying painting, foiling and ceramics. She loved music and played both the piano and the accordion. She also loved gospel music, especially hymns sung by Elvis Presley which she listened to every Sunday.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Betty Endsley; and a brother, Wilbur Benton.
Marie will be missed by all who knew her.
She is survived by three daughters, Elise Wilmoth of Oklahoma City, Linda Watkins of Bedford, Texas and Shirley Rouse of Hurst, Texas; her granddaughters, Sherry Alfred and Debbie Beardshear and her grandson, Jim Wilmoth; her great-granddaughters, Danielle and Madison Clem and Dovie-Marie Beardshear and great-grandsons, Zachary, Dylan and Taylor Beardshear and Tony and Christian Wilmoth; her great-great-granddaughter, Chelon Clem; her brother, Howard Benton of Paradise, Calif.; and her sister, Doris Emerson of Livermore, Calif.
Family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 20, 2009, at Griffin-Hillcrest Funeral Home. Condolences may be left at www.Griffin-HillcrestFH.com.
