Lorena E. "Rena" GODWIN

PLEASANT HILL, Ill. -- Lorena E. "Rena" Godwin, 97, of Pleasant Hill, formerly of Mendon, died Tuesday morning (Oct. 13, 2009) in Illini Community Hospital in Pittsfield. She was born Jan. 30, 1912, in Houston, a daughter of James W. and Carrie Bell Nutt of Mendon. She married Homer W. Godwin Jr. on Dec. 7, 1933, in Winchester. Homer died Jan. 24, 1997. Rena lived in Mendon until her family moved to Pleasant Hill, where she finished her senior year and graduated from Pleasant Hill High School. She then entered St. Mary School of Nursing in Quincy. In 1935 Rena and Homer moved to Hastings, Neb. There she worked for a psychiatric hospital for 30 years before retiring and returning to Pleasant Hill. Rena was a volunteer worker at Meals Plus and the Senior Center and was also in the first class of EMTs for Pleasant Hill. She was a charter member of the Pleasant Hill Lioness Club, the American Legion and the Eagles Club in Hastings. For the past 25 years she had written for the Pleasant Hill "Weekly Messenger" under "This and That." She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Pleasant Hill and the Bethany Class. She enjoyed card clubs, playing the organ and working among her flowers. Rena went on many bank trips and loved to travel and visit with her many friends and enjoyed her membership in the Red Hat Society. Surviving is a son, Larry Godwin of Falls City, Neb.; two grandsons, Brad L. (Cynthia) Godwin of Grandview, Mo., and Todd J. (Jyl) Godwin of Georgetown, Texas; three great-grandsons, Josh, Luke and Matthew Godwin; two great-granddaughters, Megan Green and Kate Godwin; two stepgreat-granddaughters, Tabitha and Samantha; a great-great-granddaughter, McKenna E. Green; three stepgreat-great-grandchildren; and 14 nieces and nephews. Also preceding her in death were her sister, Mildred Grimmer; brothers, Clarence and James Nutt; and a daughter-in-law, Nelda Godwin. SERVICES: Services were held at 11 a.m. today in the First Baptist Church in Pleasant Hill conducted by the Rev. Don Hannel. Burial was to follow in Crescent Heights Cemetery in Pleasant Hill. MEMORIALS: First Baptist Church in Pleasant Hill or Crescent Heights Cemetery Association. ARRANGEMENTS: Lummis Funeral Home in Pleasant Hill. Condolences may be expressed online at www.whig.com.