Lois Fleshman

Lois (Hall) Fleshman passed away on February 4, 2022.  She was born September 21, 1934, in Fairview, Montana.  She was the youngest of seven girls born to Asa and Lois Hall.  Lois’s parents homesteaded in Mona, Montana, and the family lived in a sod house.  Not too many people today can say that.  She started elementary school in Fairview, Montana.

She graduated third in her class from Unionville High School in 1952.  On April 8, 1956, she was united in marriage to William Fleshman.  They were married for almost 66 years.  To this union, three children were born:  Greg, Phil, and Sharla.

She is survived by her husband, William; children Greg (Anna) Fleshman, Phil (Chris) Fleshman, Sharla (Mark) Stogdill.  Nine grandchildren Lynn Fleshman, Tyler (Lindsey) Fleshman, Kyle (Brook) Fleshman, Brady (Kara) Fleshman, Kasey Knight, Nick Stogdill, Boaz Watt, Jude Watt, and Angstrom Watt.  She was Grandma Great to four great-grandchildren Emmitt and Bayler Fleshman, and Lily and Leighton Fleshman.  Her sister, Leo Wood, and brother-in-law, James Fleshman, and many nieces and nephews also survive.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Aletha Dolin, Helen Hall, Virginia Russell, Lily Mae Lemen, and Esther Bernardi.  Lois loved to tell how her Daddy made all of the girls feel so special and that each of them knew they were his “favorite.”

Lois was baptized by her Daddy on December 31, 1950.  Her brother-in-law, David Bruce, was baptized at the same time.  She attended the First Christian Church in Unionville, Missouri.

Lois moved to California to work and lived with her sister, Esther.  She also worked at the state capitol in Jefferson City and for Iowa Southern Utilities, who sponsored her as a Pancake Day queen candidate in 1954.  After marriage, she was a homemaker until her children were older and in 1974, she started working for a lawyer for a brief time and at Missouri Mining for thirteen years.  She was also the bookkeeper of her and William’s farming operation their entire married life.  She was a twenty-year survivor of breast cancer.

Lois’s pride and joy was her family.  When her grandchildren were in elementary school, her absolute favorite day of the year was Grandparents’ Day.  She looked forward to it every year and would never dream of missing it.  She was very proud of all of her grandchildren’s accomplishments, attending many ball games, band concerts, parades, school activities, graduations, and weddings.  She always felt very lucky to have such wonderful grandchildren and thought they were the best.

After every holiday meal, it was a tradition to play Scrabble with her grandkids and their spouses.  It was not uncommon for her to beat them even in her 80’s.  This was a lofty accomplishment, as her opponents consisted of three valedictorians, a doctor, an engineer, two teachers, an English major, and a business major.  Never underestimate Grandma!

Lois was well known for her fabulous cooking and baking.  Anyone who had the privilege of eating at her house was in for a feast.  Her homemade bread and cinnamon rolls, which was her mom’s recipe, were her specialty and she passed the secrets on to her daughter to carry on the tradition.  Most families have vegetable trays for appetizers, but not at the Fleshman household.  We always had her Putnam County Fair award-winning peanut butter fudge and scramble!

Everyone hugged her.  We do mean everyone.  She was walking on the sidewalk from the bank to her car and met the UPS man on the sidewalk.  She did not know him at all, but he stopped and gave her a hug.  We jokingly said she must have a sign on her that says, “hug me.”  Also, she wanted it noted that she had never had a car accident or a traffic ticket!

During her recent hospital stays, her family had many good talks with her and shared a lot of memories.  She made a list of things she wanted each of us to have of hers that was of sentimental value.  At her last hospital stay, she said she needed to go home – she had a lot of things to do.  Her daughter-in-law, Chris, told her everything was being taken care of and not to worry about it.  She had done her job – she raised the perfect family.  Nothing was left unsaid by her or her loved ones and for that, we are thankful.  We are very proud to honor her and our memories of her.  Recently, she told us she’d had a wonderful life.  It was a life well lived and well loved.

Funeral services for Lois Fleshman will be at Playle & Collins Family Funeral Home in Unionville at 11:00 am on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, with visitation one hour prior to the service.  Interment will be at the Unionville Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Putnam County Fair or the Putnam County Varsity Boys’ Basketball Team and may be entrusted to the Playle and Collins Funeral Home, 709 South 27 ^th Street, Unionville, MO 63565.