Florence Lee Blakeney McCallister

Funeral services to celebrate the memory of Florence Lee Blakeney McCallister, 87, of Eldridge, Mo. formerly of Davenport, will be 11 a.m. Friday June 1, 2012 at Temple Baptist Church, 3526 N. Brady St. Davenport. Visitation is Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at Weerts Funeral Home, 3625 Jersey Ridge Rd. Davenport. Additional visitation is Friday, at the church, from 10-11 a.m. Burial is at the Rock Island Arsenal National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the church. Mrs. McCallister passed away after a brief illness on May 24, 2012 at the University Hospital, Columbia, Mo. She was born in 1925 in Conway, Ark., to the union of Isaac Jefferson and Annie Bell Blakeney. She married A.C. McCallister on May 31, 1951 in Benton, Ark., moved to Davenport and resided 60 years as a homemaker. A.C. preceded her in death on Feb. 20, 1987. She attended school in the Conway and North Little Rock school district, graduating from Pulaski High Training School in 1946. Baptized at an early age, she attended Mt. Ararat Baptist Church in North Little Rock, then later became a member of Temple Baptist Church, Davenport. Florence was a pioneer of the women's movement by becoming a female employee in an ammunitions plant during World War II. She was also a great cook and domestic engineer. She worked as a school cafeteria cook, which she enjoyed the most. Her hobbies included quilting and gardening. She took great pride in raising her children and caring for her family. Survivors include her children: Ethelene Johnson, North Little Rock, Ark., Flora McCallister, Columbia, Mo., Eugene (Danette) McCallister, Eldridge, Mo., Diane (Jake) Mathurin, and Ruben (Charlene) McCallister, both Davenport; 11 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson. She was also preceded in death by her parents, sister Dories M. Brown; brother Andrew J. Blakeney and her dear friend, Anna Brooks. Online condolences may be expressed to Mrs. Florence's family by visiting her obituary at www.WeertsFH.com.