Esther Rouse

ESTHER P. ROUSE

Mount Pleasant

Esther P. Rouse, 91, of Mount Pleasant, died Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, at the Henry County Health Center in Mount Pleasant. Esther would have turned 92 on Tuesday, Oct. 27. A graveside funeral service for Mrs. Rouse will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Forest Home Cemetery, Mount Pleasant, where interment will take place. Pastor Guy Sammons of Rome Baptist Church will officiate. Friends may call from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Kimzey Funeral Home. There will be no family visitation. Masks are requested at the funeral service.

In lieu of flowers, a general memorial has been established for a charity to be named later. Online condolences may be left at www.kimzeyfuneralhome.com.

Mrs. Rouse, the former Esther Pauline Sammons, was born Oct. 27, 1928, in Rome, Iowa. She was the daughter of Clem Arthur and Lottie Mae (Messer) Sammons. Esther was baptized at the Rome Baptist Church. She attended grade school in Rome and high school in Mount Pleasant. On Aug. 17, 1957, in Fairfield, Iowa, Esther was united in marriage to Robert Wayne Rouse. Mr. Rouse died Wednesday, Aug. 8, 1990, at the Henry County Health Center in Mount Pleasant.

Esther began her working career at the former Hunt's Greenhouse in Mount Pleasant. She then began a long career at the former Mental Health Institute in Mount Pleasant. She worked in both the Dietary and Laundry Departments, retiring after 30-plus years of service.

In her younger years, she and her husband held pilots licenses and flew airplanes. Together, they belonged to the Traveling Tigers Camping Club. They visited numerous places with their friends in the club. As members of the club, they provided security during the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion. In her later years, Esther enjoyed western movies and word puzzles. She also truly enjoyed eating at the Red Lobster Restaurant.

Those thankful for sharing in Esther's life include a brother and his wife, Gerald and Maxine Sammons of Mount Pleasant and a host of nieces and nephews and their families.

Her parents, husband, three brothers, Virgil, Oral "Coke" and Junior Sammons; four sisters, Cecil Milks, Hazel Garrison, Wanda Gill and Dorothy Sammons (in infancy); a special friend in her later years, Marvin Ruby; and her beloved pet Yorkie, Susie, preceded Esther in death.