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Gertrude Bain
EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — Gertrude I. Thresher Bain, age 96, a resident of East Prairie passed from this life Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, at the Bertrand Nursing and Rehab Center.
She was born Sept. 3, 1926, in Bay, Arkansas, to the late Eli E. Thresher and Hattie Harlan Thresher.
Her family moved to East Prairie when she was 5 years old, purchased land and began farming. In 1951, she married Ralph Bain and they were blessed with a son, Stuart, and a daughter, Marsha. Gertrude told the joke that a bunch were gathered at The Pearly Gates and Jesus asked Peter, “Hey, who are all those people down by the gates?” Peter replied, “They are all from East Prairie and they don’t want to miss the bus home.” She loved her community and was a lifelong resident.
After High School, Gertrude served as a teacher in a one room country schoolhouse, Walnut Grove at Barnes Ridge, for three years while attending Southeast Missouri Teachers College each summer. When her kids reached school age, she began a career in banking at First Bank of East Prairie where she remained for over 30 years. When she retired, she continued to serve others by being a part of the Foster Grandparents Program at Doyle Elementary, where she assisted her great-niece, Nicole Phillips. She spoiled Stuart and Marsha their entire life while they were at home, by serving thing ice cream in bed before school each day. She was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church of East Prairie, where she served as a Sunday school teacher.
Surviving are her children, Stuart R. Bain, (Sandy Arington) and Marsha L. Bain Adkisson (Eddie); grandchildren, Clay Adkisson (Mandy), Dr. Justin Bain (Jessica), Paige Adkisson Lombardo (Joe); eight great grandchildren, and a host of nephews, nieces and cousins.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Eli, Marco, Malcolm, Floyd and John and two sisters, Goldie Thresher McIllwain and Inez Thresher.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the funeral hour at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, at the First Baptist Church in East Prairie. George White will officiate.
Interment will follow in the East Prairie Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of the McMikle Funeral Home of Charleston.
Pallbearers will be Clay Adkison, Justin Bain, Joe Lombardo, Brent Thresher, Terry Thresher and Mark Mars.
Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com.
The family requests memorials may be given to the First Baptist Church of East Prairie, 205 Pearl Street, East Prairie, MO 63845 or The East Prairie Nutrition Center, 304 East Main St., East Prairie, MO 63845.