from the obituary pages

the world is running out of flossies

friends of my mother would know that i would be remiss if i didn't note the following, from wednesday's des moines register:

flossie smith, leon--

services for flossie smith, 91, were 10 am, thursday november 20, at slade-o'donnell funeral home. visitation was all day wednesday.

flossie ragan, johnston--

flossie ragan, 85, died november 16, 2009, at iowa lutheran hospital in des moines. graveside services will be held 1 pm, saturday, november 22, 2008, at praire city cemetary in baldwin, kansas.

flossie was born january 15, 1923, in lanes prairie, mo, to calvin and sarah stewart. she enjoyed spending time with her family.

flossie is survived by two sones, a sister, 21 grandchildrenm and many great- and great-great-grandchildren. she was preceded in death by her husband, three sones, and her parents.

a celebration of life dinner will be held at 430 pm sunday, november 23, at the eagle's lodge in des moines.

.....

mom was known--in full humor and self-effacingly--to many of her friends as "flossie thorson west bader," and always had a hearty laugh whenever either of us came across another flossie in whatever circumstance. i'm sure she would have laughed as much as i did when i read obituaries of two flossies on the same page of the register on the same day. i mourn the loss of two additional examples of iowa residents bearing vestiges of settler-era nomenclature.