Minnie "Laverne" Emerson Thies

Minnie "LaVerne" Thies, 95, of Glasgow, MO, formerly of Poplar Bluff, passed away Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, at Golden Living Center in Glasgow.

Mrs. Thies was born June 7, 1919, in Poplar Bluff to the late John Franklin and Minnie Anne Jackson Emerson. She was a longtime member of Twin Springs Missionary Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff and was a retired school teacher. Mrs. Thies loved being a wife and mother. She enjoyed spending time with her family; playing the piano; writing poetry, prose and music; and reading. Mrs. Thies was the original pianist at Twin Springs Church and later played at the AME Church in Boonville, MO.

On June 30, 1940, she married William Wagner Thies at Zion Lutheran Church in Poplar Bluff. He preceded her in death in 1993.

Survivors include two children: Robert "Bob" Louis Thies of Boonville, MO and Linda LaVerne Thies Overstreet of Fayette, MO; eight grandchildren: Michael Thies, Robin Cotrell, John Overstreet, Jeff Overstreet, Anna Goodwyn, Jessie Crabtree, Nick Thies and Ben Thies; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Two sons, William Wagner Thies, Jr. and John Franklin Thies also preceded Mrs. Thies in death.

Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Twin Springs Missionary Baptist Church on M Hwy, in Poplar Bluff. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. with Rev. Byron Beck officiating. Burial will be in the Woodlawn section of the Poplar Bluff City Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Twin Springs Missionary Baptist Church, 1459 M Highway, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cotrellfuneralservice.com.