Delores Plummer

Delores Plummer touched, encouraged, inspired many Delores Plummer loving wife and mother, smart businesswoman, tireless church and community volunteer and beloved friend to many passed February 22 from her Farmington home to her heavenly home with husband Jim and family by her side. Emily Delores Marie Brewen was born May 23, 1928, the youngest of the four children of Pearl (Bess) Brewen and William Joseph Brewen. She grew up in the German community near Fredericktown where she was fondly known as Lory. On June 10, 1950, Delores married Jim Plummer (James S.), the cute high-school boy who saved her a seat on the bus. The couple settled in Farmington, the start of a staunch 73-year partnership of raising children, running a hardware store and enjoying many travels in the U.S. and beyond. Except for the four years Jim served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict, Delores lived, worked and served in the Farmington area all her adult life. As the mother of three young children, Delores led a Girl Scout troop and 4-H club. A longtime member of the Farmington Christian Church, she helped organize fellowship dinners, bake sales and bazaars, making countless pies and gallons of chicken salad. In 1969 the Plummers opened Gambles Hardware in downtown Farmington. For 22 years, Jim and Delores worked in tandem, growing their business as well as their hometown's vitality. Jim always praised his partner: Delores "worked as hard as I did, maybe harder. She did things I couldn't or wouldn't do!" Along with the downtown business association and many civic ventures, Delores was active in the Farmington Business and Professional Women's Organization, a past president and the 1992 Woman of the Year honoree; and a longtime member of the St. Francois County Historical Society, Nightimers Club and 25 Gardeners. In "retirement," Delores opened Carriage Shed Antiques at the Plummer farm south of Farmington and stepped up her volunteer work, serving with the Southeast Missouri Agency on Aging's ombudsman program and the Farmington Senior Center. When the City of Farmington honored Jim and Delores with the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award, Delores recalled a career highlight: the Chamber of Commerce naming their store "the friendliest in town." She beamed at compliments for son Scott, who owns and operates Plummer's Ace Hardware, and grandson Dylan, store manager, continuing that trademark customer service at the store that has been in the Plummer family for more than 53 years. Throughout her 95 years, Delores touched many: young 4-Hers she taught to cook and sew; friends and neighbors whose spirits she lifted with homemade soup; hospice patients she comforted with a listening ear; and, most of all, her husband and children whom she loved, encouraged and inspired. Along with her parents, Delores was preceded in death by siblings Kathlyn Ivester, Bill Brewen and Faye Wiegenstein. Delores will be greatly missed by her family: husband Jim; daughters Kimberly Krull (Chris), Kirkwood and Melinda Marquart (Henry Dorn), Wildwood; son Scott Plummer (Tina), Farmington; grandchildren Christopher Krull, Ryan Krull (Jessica Rogen), Matthew Marquart (Jackie), Kellyn Marquart, Dylan Plummer (J.B.) and Jackson Plummer (Gabby); great-grandchildren Caden, Maggie, Nyla, Cora and Ari; many nieces, nephews and friends. The family extends deep appreciation to many whose exceptional and devoted care enabled Delores to remain at home: family friend Linda Tucker; caregivers Robbin Keller, Judy Richardson and Pam Patterson; Serenity HospiceCare nurse Kaitlynn Forsythe and Serenity's Jessica Howard, Patti Govero, Ashley Snyder. Friends and family are invited to a celebration of life memorial service for Delores, 11 a.m., Saturday, March 2, at the Farmington Christian Church, 201 West Columbia street, followed by a luncheon at the church. A private family burial will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to: Serenity HospiceCare, 5272 Flat River Road, Park Hills, MO 63601 and Farmington Christian Church, 201 West Columbia St., Farmington, MO 63640. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Cozean Memorial Chapel. Share your condolences and memories at cozeanfuneralhome.com. Funeral Service Farmington First Christian Church Saturday, March 2, 2024 11:00 AM 201 West Columbia Farmington, MO 63640