Ida Mae Huse, 92
Funeral services for Ida Mae Huse, 92, were held on Dec. 20 2021, at the Lilly Ridge General Baptist Church. Burial is at Lilly Ridge Cemetery.
Mrs. Huse died Dec. 14, at the Gainesville Health Care Center.
She was born on Feb. 25, 1929, in Tarkio, Missouri, the daughter of Fred Arley and Mamie Marie (Allcorn) Rackley.
Her family moved to Ozark County when she was seven years old.
On March 10, 1948, Ida Mae married Robert Huse in Mountain Home, Arkansas.
A graduate of Gainesville High School in 1947, Ida Mae was valedictorian of her class and went on to attend Southwest Missouri State College (now Missouri State University).
After teaching one 8-month term, she found that she enjoyed working with children. A lifelong career in education spanning 40 years started at the one room school at Sand Ridge where she had attended elementary school. She taught in several one-room schoolhouses in the county for 13 years.
Ozark County schools reorganized in 1963 and Ida Mae taught seventh and eighth graders in Gainesville for five years.
In 1968 she accepted the position of elementary principal where she served for 22 years.
By attending college in the summers, Ida Mae received her bachelor of science degree in education in 1961. She also earned a master’s degree in education and Administration in 1967. She retired from her career in education in 1990.
During her 40-year career she was always active in professional organizations connected with education. Many years were also spent working with 4-H groups in Ozark County. Following retirement Ida Mae continued to be active in volunteer work with Missouri Retired Teachers Association, Ozark County Senior Center, Red Cross Bloodmobile, Chapter JP of PEI and Delta Kappa Gamma. She also served as a representative in the Silver haired Legislature in Jefferson City.
Ida Mae was a member of the Lilly Ridge General Baptist Church where she served as church clerk for many years, taught the toddler Sunday School class until she was in her 80s and sang in the church choir and Lilly Ridge quartet. She enjoyed working in the church and continued to do so until her health failed.
She is survived by a daughter, Carol King and husband Wayman, of Gainesville; two sons, Michael and wife Brenda of Russellville, Arkansas and Jeffrey and wife Stacey of Centerville, Virginia; one brother, Delbert Rackley and wife Mary of Rogersville; one sister, Judy Vangilder and husband Tom of Jonesboro, Arkansas; eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one brother, two sisters and one great-grandson.
Memorial contributions may be made to Lilly Ridge Cemetery, P.O. Box 281, Gainesville, Missouri 65655; to Lilly Ridge General Baptist Church, P.O. Box 33, Gainesville, Missouri 65655; or left at the funeral home.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Gainesville.