Flora Gene Cameron

Flora Gene Cameron of Summerfield, KS, most recently residing at Good Samaritan Society in Beatrice, NE, died May 21, 2020.  She was born July 1, 1934 on a farm near Liberty, NE to Joseph M. and Mae Pearl (Maine) Crosier.  

Gene attended rural schools around Mission Creek including Dist. 22, Dist. 66, Dist. 77 and Bookwalter. She graduated from Barneston High School and attended Peru State Teachers College where she earned a teaching degree.  She taught a short time at Dist. 37 in West Branch where she was just a few years older than her oldest students.

Gene was united in marriage on July 20, 1952 to Harlan Cameron.  While Harlan worked construction and drove trucks, Gene devoted the early years of their life together to raising their three children.  For a few years they worked side by side as owners and operators of Harlan’s Standard Service in Summerfield.  After giving up the service station Harlan went to trucking full time while Gene kept the books and worked at Formfit in Beatrice.  She soon became the go-to-person whenever Summerfield businesses needed dependable staff, working for Frerking IGA, Meyer Lumber and First National Bank where she retired after 33 years.  Gene enjoyed many trucking vacations with Harlan, as he chose loads to destinations they wanted to explore.  

In 1968 Harlan and Gene suffered their greatest heartache, the death of their son Kevin as the jeep he was driving rolled on a gravel road in rural Pawnee County.  While the loss of Kevin was devastating, they doted on their two girls and enjoyed every aspect of their lives, especially when the grandchildren came along.

Gene was a care-giver, caring for her elderly mother in her later years, standing beside Harlan through his 10 year battle with cancer, lovingly babysitting the grandchildren whenever asked, and driving her sisters to destinations when they were no longer able to drive themselves. 

Gene’s biggest points of pride were her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was in the audience and cheering section of all music and sport activities of the kids as they went through Summerfield Public Schools.  Later she seldom missed activities at Malcolm Public Schools and Axtell Public Schools where her grandkids were active in sports and music.  And in more recent years she truly loved seeing the great-grandchildren participate in youth sports, dance and music.  All of Gene’s grandchildren earned degrees in higher education.  She proudly displayed, year round, the collection of Christmas ornaments representing the college each of them had attended.

Gene was preceded in death by her parents, husband of 52 years, Harlan, son Kevin, brother LaVal Crosier, sisters Betty Morrison and Rita Peterson.  

Survivors include daughters Colleen and husband Dwight Morehead of Burchard and Sherryl and husband Keith Burger of Summerfield, KS. Believing they were all Grandma’s favorite, the grandchildren are listed in chronological order so as not to reveal the true favorite: Kristopher Morehead and wife Janet of Nixa, MO; Tiara Harms and husband Colonel Brent Harms, currently of Montgomery, AL; Kerri Butler and husband Christopher of Randolph, KS; Patrick Morehead and wife Lindsey of Lincoln, NE; Travis Burger and wife Nichole of Manhattan, KS.  Great-Grandchildren are Damian, Isabella, and Michael Butler; Pyper and Gaige Morehead; and Cameron Harms (the most recent favorite). Other survivors include sister LaVon Vaughn, sister-in-law Helen Mally, numerous nieces and nephews including Jack & Sharon Hollingsworth, and a lifetime of friends too numerous to even imagine.

Graveside service 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at Mission Creek Cemetery, rural Liberty, Nebraska. Visitation on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 from 9:00 a.m.  to 6:00 p.m. at Wherry Mortuary, 919 G Street, Pawnee City. Inurnment at Mission Creek Cemetery. Memorials to family choice. Online condolences may be left at www.wherrymortuary.com. Individuals attending service who are non family members please stay in your vehicle and the service will be broadcast  over the radio.

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