A devoted Christian mother Mary Pearl Bellinger, daughter of Charles and Anna Freeman, was born Sept. 30, 1915, in Henderson County, Little York, Ill. She went into Glory land on Jan. 15, 2008, in Mansfield, Mo., at the age of 92.
Early in her life, she was untied in marriage to Alvin Bellinger and to this union two sons and four daughters were born.
Her parents, a brother, a sister, two grandsons and one granddaughter preceded her in death. In February 2007 she lost her twin brother, Earl Freeman, of Fort Madison, Iowa.
Pearl is survived by two sons, Lloyd Bellinger and wife, Sheri, of Little York, Ill., and Larry Bellinger and wife, Mary, of Monmouth, Ill.; also four daughters, Louise Greer and husband, Don, of Adair, Ill., Linda Thomas and husband, Dick, of Mansfield, Laura Davies and husband, Trevor, of Little York, Ill., and Lillian Gottler and husband, Bob, of Coeur D’Alene, Idaho; 19 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
She was born and reared on the family farm near the Little York and Monmouth area. She was a devoted Christian mother, raising her family and keeping the home running. They lived around the Little York community for many years.
In 1979 she moved to Lancaster, Calif., to be with her daughter, Linda, where she was a day care cook for 13 years at her church. Then in 1994, she moved with her daughter and husband to Mansfield and volunteered her time at the Crisis Center and Friends In Action Intl., until a few months before her home going.
Pearl was a hard working lady, enjoyed her volunteer work and taking care of neighbors and friends. She loved growing beautiful flowers and maintaining them herself. She was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother.
Memorial services were held at the First Baptist Church in Mansfield at 10 a.m. on Jan. 21. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to Friends In Action Intl., Shipping Ministry Expansion Project, PO Box 88, Mansfield, MO 65704, where she volunteered for 12 years.
