ALETHA MYRL LUTHER
Aletha Myrl Landes Luther, born February 14, 1921 in Coffey, Missouri, in Daviess County, youngest of the nine children born to Oscar Elmer and Etta Mollie Burns Landes, passed on to her glory on November 18, 2020 at Samaritan Hospital in Macon, Missouri. She was united in marriage to Freddie M. Luther, Sr. on December 30, 1939 in Johnson County, Missouri and they celebrated 63 anniversaries before his passing. They resided in Macon, Missouri where they raised their three children and owned and operated Luther Oil Company until their retirement.
Aletha was employed at the Macon Public Library for 43 years as well as being bookkeeper for their business. If you had an overdue book, hers was the voice you heard on the phone as a gentle reminder. She was the one who helped with the 5th grade leaf project and knew where all the trees were located in town to obtain the specimens. If you wanted to do genealogical research, she was your go to girl. She was a member of the Macon United Methodist Church, the Anti-Rust Women’s Club, and the Women of Note. Through the years she served as a Cub Scout den mother and Girl Scout leader. She enjoyed all family time–boating, picnics, and especially fishing trips to Bennett Springs. She spent as much time as she could cheering at the sporting events of her children and grandchildren. She was an avid reader and enjoyed many hobbies such as quilting, caning furniture, playing cards (pinochle and pitch were her favorites). She was awarded a scholarship in art but chose to marry and start their family. She and our father were the envy of many couples at celebrations where there was dancing. She was a loyal St. Louis Cardinal Baseball and Mizzou Tiger Basketball fan. She loved to tell and hear a good joke, even if it was a little “off color”.
Aletha was preceded in death by her husband Freddie, one infant son Stephen, and all of her siblings. Aletha is survived by her children Linda (Tom) Thompson, Freddie Jr. (Karen) Luther, and Susan Leathers as well as her grandchildren Tim (Julie) Frost, Erik (Jessica) Luther, Shannon (Tim) Schaeffer, Lisa (David) Clark and a sister-in-law, Bea Luther. She is also survived by nine great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Our parents touched the lives of so many in our community in so many fun and loving ways-through their work, their service in the church, in community organizations, their friends, and their family. We were blessed to be born to such loving and nurturing parents who gave us the tools to walk in faith, to love, to serve others, to work hard but save time to play, and always to laugh.
As per her wishes, the family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her memory to the Macon Public Library (Friends of the Library) or the Macon United Methodist Church.
Those we hold most dear never truly leave us . . . they live on in the kindness they showed, the comfort they shared, and the love they brought into our lives.
A celebration to honor her life will be announced at a later date.
