Julia Wrather

Julia Jane Utterback Wrather, 89, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, April 13, 2012, at her home.

She was born June 18, 1922, in Portageville, Mo., to James Robert and Emma Swilley Utterback.

She and James Odell Wrather were married May 25, 1947, at Portageville Methodist Church. He died Jan. 12, 1996.

She graduated from Portageville High School, attended Central Methodist College in Fayette, Mo., and graduated from Southeast Missouri State University. She attended graduate school at Northwestern University and Southeast Missouri State University.

Jane and Odell moved from Portageville to Oran, Mo., in 1950. She taught school for several years in Portageville, Wardell, Mo., Bell City, Mo., and at Oran High School.

While living in Oran, Mo., Jane was the Methodist church organist and Sunday school teacher for 42 years. She was a member of United Methodist Women in Portageville, Oran and Cape Girardeau. She and Odell moved to Saxony Village in Cape Girardeau in 1995. She began attending Centenary United Methodist Church in 1996.

She was a member of the PEO Sisterhood since 1943, including chapters GU in Portageville, CX in Chaffee and currently Chapter BI in Cape Girardeau.

Survivors include a daughter, Susan Elizabeth (Glenn) Nothdurft, Gordonville; a son, Dr. James Allen (Brenda) Wrather of Portageville; grandchildren, James Charles (Janis) Wrather of Nixa, Mo., Rebeccah Elizabeth (Edward) Bodine of Carmel, Ind., Sara Jane (Brandon) Pylate of Jackson, Julia Lee (Mark) Baker of Jefferson City, Mo.; great-grandchildren, Shelby Gail Wrather, James Aaron Wrather, Evan Michael Bodine, Samantha Elizabeth Bodine, Emma Jordan Pylate and Lily Jane Baker.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and brothers and sisters-in-law James and Madge Utterback and Robert and Margaret Utterback.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Centenary United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau.

The funeral will be at 9 a.m. Monday at the church, with the Rev. Karen Nothdurft officiating.

Burial will follow at Portageville Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be given to Zion United Methodist Mission Fund or the American Cancer Society.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.