Eileen Mears Morrow, formerly of Greenfield, went to be with her Lord on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, at Heritage Health Jacksonville.

She was born to Carlos and Marie Spencer Opper in Beardstown on Dec. 16, 1925. Eileen Opper and Raymond Mears were married Dec. 19, 1943, and he died in 1992. She married Russell Morrow in December 2005, and he survives.

Two sons survive Eileen, Larry (Kathy) of Rockbridge and Leland (Carol) of Branson, Mo. Also surviving Eileen are seven grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; a sister, Ruth Opper Wolf (June) of Carlinville; a sister-in-law, Eunice Adcock of Nilwood; and many nieces and nephews. A daughter, Maralee Johnson; her parents; and brother, Fred Opper, all preceded her in death.

For over 20 years she wrote a weekly column, "Entries from Emerald Acres," published in the Springfield State Journal Register. She compiled and published a 500-page cookbook, "What's Cooking Down Home?" followed by editing "A Treasury of Farm Women's Humor." She was a member of Outdoor Writer's of America and the National League of American Pen Women.

A charter member of Faith Bible Church in Greenfield, she taught VBS and Sunday school for over 30 years and had an active, prayerful heart for Christian missions and missionaries. In the community she led the "Rubicon Rubies" 4-H club for many years. She was an avid vegetable and flower gardener and loved sharing her abundance. A Master Gardener, she exhibited at county fairs and was an Illinois State Fair judge.

Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. at Shields-Bishop Funeral Home in Greenfield today, where funeral services will be Saturday at 11 a.m. Burial will be at Oak Wood Cemetery, north of Greenfield. Memorials are suggested to the Faith Bible Church or the charity of the donor's choice.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Jacksonville Journal-Courier on Jan. 4, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for Eileen Mears Morow

5 Entries

Lorene Watrous

January 5, 2013

Some of my most cherished memories of playing when I was a child were at the farm. I enjoyed her flower gardens and eating fresh vegetables she planted.

Valerie Miller Hudson

January 4, 2013

My deepest sympathy on the passing of a lovely person and an outstanding 4-H leader. She was a terrific role model to her Rubicon Rubies, and we all benefitted from her knowledge, enthusiasm and encouragement.

Larry & Marlene Pearson

January 4, 2013

Our sympathy to all of the family. It's never easy to say good bye to our dear Mother, grandmother, great grandmother....or friend. She was a wonderful friend and faithful member of the church we pastored in Greenfield. She taught all of our sons Sunday School classes and did so many things around the church, the community. She freely shared her knowledge, her love, her garden goodies and her wonderful meals. We are so thankful to know that she is now spending eternity with her Savior because she asked Him to be her personal savior and some day we too shall join her!

Dick Baumgartner and Liz Salzer

January 4, 2013

Our condolences to the family. Eileen was a very special Aunt. We always looked forward to a visit with her. She was such a loving and caring person. She enjoyed life, was very creative in her activities and always had a positive attitude, that was a delight to all that new her.

January 4, 2013

Mrs. Mears saved me a trip to emergency room with my youngest son. He was with his brothers playing timber close to our house and he ate some berries , the boys brought him in with the branch of berries he'd eaten (I had no idea if they were poison) I called poision control in Springfield to find out they couldn't identify what it was over the phone they ask if I was close to Mrs. Mears house( and we were) so they advised me to take branch over have her identify it then we'd know what to do. She looked at branch and berries and said I should send the boys back to pick the rest of them and make Jelly she even had the receipe . I was so relieved not to be heading to hospital to have his stomach pumped. I was so glad she lived close by. I learned alot from her over the years . She knew a alot about making plants grow and using them ,
she was always working on some project or learning something new and she shared these with anyone that listened. She was always an example of what a FarmWife should be.

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