Nina Marie Sommers

Nina M. Sommers, age 94, of Cape Girardeau, went home to her Lord Jesus on August 17, 2018 from The Arbors. Nina was born February 11, 1924 in Anniston, Missouri to John and Claudie O’Guin Young. She is survived by son Patrick (Barbara) Sommers of Bluffton, South Carolina, daughter Sara Sommers of Cape Girardeau, and granddaughter Whitney (John) Nelson of Crystal, Minnesota, as well as several nieces and nephews. Nina was proceeded in death August 5, 2018 by her husband of 74 years, Sidney S. Sommers; and by siblings James E. Young and Frances A. Young Rhodes of Cape Girardeau, and John W. Young of Memphis, Tennessee. After graduating from Illmo High School in 1941, she worked at the Brown Shoe Company as the executive assistant to the General Manager. After WWII began, Nina made the decision to contribute to the war effort and enrolled for training as an airplane mechanic. While working in this capacity, she met the love of her life, Sidney S. Sommers who was deployed to Harris Field in Cape Girardeau for flight training as a member of the Army Air Corp. They were married in Valdosta, Georgia on June 14, 1944. Nina then moved with Sidney to his various war postings and found work at each location. When he was deployed overseas, she returned to Cape to await his return in 1946. After starting a family in 1947, Nina turned her focus to being a wife and mother and the family manager. She became involved in the PTA both at a local and regional level, cub scouts, SE Hospital Auxiliary, Meals on Wheels and many other organizations. After her children were gone, she assumed the role of secretary and bookkeeper in Sid’s insurance business. Nina and Sid joined Centenary United Methodist Church in 1947. There she served faithfully in many capacities, including MYF leader, and the seed committee which launched LaCroix United Methodist Church. Nina and Sid were charter members of the Centenary's Sunday School Clipper Class. Nina solved crossword puzzles with a pen – which made the rest of the family feel quite inadequate. She was the family’s thesaurus and spell checker, as well as a sounding board for any substantive discussion. Nina loved music, and was a voracious reader of fine literature, both fiction and non-fiction. She loved to travel, especially on road trips with Sid around the United States. In her later years, Nina wrote notes to anyone the church needed to send encouragement, sympathy, congratulations, etc. When her tremor made it impossible for her to write legibly, she used a typewriter. Many hundreds received her thoughtful notes. She and Sid delivered meals, and worked at the hospital on Friday nights for nearly 30 years - Nina on the desk and Sid delivering cards and flowers to rooms. They held a prayer group in their home. Nina and Sid were involved in the lives of neighbors, friends, church members, and others. No one was a stranger - the beautician, the grocer, the auto mechanic, etc. They sat with dying people in their last days, offering comfort and prayers. Nina and Sid were inseparable for 71 years until Nina was forced to live in memory care. Even then, Sid would visit every day. On nice days they would pick up lunch and go to the park for a picnic in the car. All who knew Nina and Sid regarded them as an exemplary example of a loving, Godly marriage. With Nina’s passing they are together once again and now will be inseparable for eternity. Visitation will be Tuesday, August 21, 2018 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., and 10:00am Wednesday, August 22, both at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. Funeral service follows at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Dr. Barry E. Winders officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Centenary United Methodist Church, Cape Bible Chapel, or Samaritan's Purse at samaritanspurse.org. Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.

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Nina Marie Sommers

February 11, 1924 - August 17, 2018