Pletcher, Suzanna Berkey (1868-1962)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1962 Feb 8 p. 8

Birth date: 1868 Dec 2

text of obituary:

SUZANNA BERKEY PLETCHER

Suzanna Berkey Pletcher, daughter of Jacob and Lelah (Bergey) Berkey, was born in southern Ohio on Dec. 2, 1868. She died on Jan. 10, 1962, at the home of her son, Paul, in Pampa, Texas where she had been living for several months. She reached the age of 93 years, one month, and eight days.

Grandma Pletcher was unusually active and alert until the last short period of her life. On Oct. 1, 1961, she suffered a cerebral hemorrhage from which she never fully recovered.

On Nov. 22, 1885, she was married to Thomas Pletcher at Newton, Kansas. They first made their home in Rush County, Kansas, and later also lived in Nebraska and Missouri. In 1908 they traveled by covered wagon to Ochiltree County, Texas, where she lived until the time of her death.

At the age of 12 she received Christ as her personal Saviour, and upon confession of her faith was baptized into the Mennonite Church. Her home cradled one of the first Sunday schools in Ochiltree County. Out of this Sunday school there later emerged the present Perryton Mennonite Church. All who knew her were impressed with her knowledge of the Scriptures and her eagerness to share the things which she had experienced in Christ. In church services she was always ready to share a Scripture verse or testimony.

Grandma Pletcher expressed her keen interest in missions by personally sharing her faith and also supporting those who were engaged in mission work. As a pioneer mother her home was open to all and she became a second mother to many in the community. Until recently she was a faithful member of the Sewing Circle of her church.

Thomas and Suzanna Pletcher were the parents of 11 children. A step-son, Henry, was also reared in the home, as well as two grandchildren, after the death of their mother. Surviving are Lydia (Mrs. Harve Holdeman) of Perryton, Anna (Mrs. Louis Rogers) of Sparta, Mo., George of Perryton, Noah and Paul of Pampa, Harvey of Perryton, and Esther (Mrs. Worley Adair) of Lawton, Okla. The two grandchildren reared in her home are Ella May (Mrs. Allen Wagner) of LaVeta, Colo. and Bill Pletcher of Perryton, Texas.

Also surviving are three sisters, (Mrs. Elmer Stauffer), Cora (Mrs. Albert Smith), and Saloma (Mrs. Ed Schoenheinz), all of Hubbard, Oregon; three brothers, Albert Kilmer of Ft. Sumner, New Mexico, and Noah and John Berkey of Hubbard, Oregon; 41 grandchildren, 119 great-grandchildren, 52 great-great-grandchildren, and countless other relatives and friends.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Thomas, who died in 1928; her step-son, Henry; two sons, Silas and John; two daughters, Martha and Ruth; four brothers, Stephen, Dan, Jacob, and Henry; and two sisters, Mary and Lydia.

Funeral services were conducted on Jan. 13, 1962, at the First Baptist Church of Perryton. Officiating ministers were Rev. E. E. Showalter of LaJunta, Colo., Rev. Wallace Jantz of Perryton, and Rev. Marcus Adair of Canyon, Texas. Interment was made in the Ochiltree cemetery.