JOETTA GORRELL

Joetta Gorrell, 79, of LaBelle, Mo., died January 31, 2016 surrounded by her family at her home in rural LaBelle.

The daughter of Hadley and Waneta (Shires) Job was born on June 14, 1936 in rural Lewis County, Mo.

She was united in marriage to Willis C. Gorrell on March 6, 1953 at Canton, Mo. He preceded her in death on Jan. 22, 2010.

She is survived by her children, John Gorrell, Bill Gorrell, Angela Miller, Tammy Glasgow, Susan Plenge and Jody Geisendorfer; grandchildren, Scott Gorrell, Zachary Miller, Garrett Glasgow, Jennifer Plenge, Jacqueline Boltz, Katie Plenge and Nikki Gorrell; great grandchildren, Ella Boltz and Emmett Boltz.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister Peg Stiffey and brother, Ron Job..

Private graveside services will be held at Midway Cemetery in rural Lewistown, Mo.

A Piece of Cloth

Different objects are valued for different reasons. Some for their functions, some for their looks, and some for the pleasures that come from owning them. Other objects' value comes more from what was put into them. Sometimes the most valuable things we own in life, are the possessions with immeasurable value put into them. Something as usual or as common as a quilt may be just a piece of cloth to one person. As for me, though, my quilt is one of my most prized possessions.

My grandma sewed my quilt. She started out on a farm, and when she was old enough married a farmer. She raised six kids with nothing but what she and Grandpa could produce. She still doesn't have a lot, but what she does have is an innate talent for sewing. She spent innumerable hours sewing a quilt for each of her grandkids. The one she gave me is a block quilt of the African savannah. It is deep green with light tan trim around the border of the blocks. In two of the blocks there is a majestic lion studying the distant horizon. In the other two blocks there is a bull elephant standing in a “what are you looking at” stance. It has become stained and worn in some places from all the years I have used it. However, it is still as valuable as gold to me because it was made with loving care and attention by my grandma.

I own other objects that are worth more monetarily, but money isn't the most important thing in life. Love, kindness and caring are the threads that hold everything together in life. To somebody else, it's just a piece of cloth, but to me every stitch represents my grandma's love and care.