Florence Pauline Secrest's Obituary
Florence Pauline Kruse Secrest
Born 12/05/28
Passed on into the arms of our Lord 8/18/25
Florence was born to mother Johanna Wessels (Lena) Kruse and father Dedrick Johnathan (Dick) Kruse, in the family home where she was delivered by a doctor who made house calls. She was raised on the family farm, on the Rolling Plains of Central Texas. She was the fourth of six children.
The family sustained themselves with the crops and animals they tended to on the farm. Rarely would they go to town, but to attend public school and church, and an occasional dance or meals shared with family. Faith, family, love and diligence were rooted in their actions. St. John's Lutheran Church in Winters, Texas was the social network for the Kruse family where aunts, uncles and cousins also attended. Many of the other church members were of German descent as were the Kruses and Wessels. They were proud of their heritage and German was often spoken amongst them.
Florence attended the local Dale community school through grade school, a two-room structure with a wood burning stove for heat and desks complete with ink wells. The higher level of school was attended in Winters where Florence graduated from Winters High School just as World War II was ending. She moved to Dallas and shared a room with her older sister Dorothy in a boarding house and hit the ground running working for two insurance companies - United Fidelity and Harris and Huffines. She was a member of Sigma Phi, a business sorority whose purpose was to develop students into leaders through participation in collaborative and engaging settings, where their voices could be heard and make a difference. Florence continued to live with Dorothy until she married Charles Secrest.
Florence and Charles were married on August 25, 1951, in the First United Lutheran Church on Mockingbird Lane. A few years after they were married, they formed what became Secrest Sales Company, a manufacturers’ representative for various companies producing commercial interior finishes. Charlie traveled and built relationships with customers that lasted a lifetime, while Florence held down the fort at home and the office, taking care of three children and helping grow the business. Charles preceded Florence in death in 1989, she was the matriarch of our family for the next thirty-six years.
Florence was a member of First Community Church of Dallas for forty-years, where she taught Sunday School, she was President of the Women’s Council and member of the church board. She was a member of The Assistance League, which gave her opportunities to serve by volunteering at Children’s Medical Center, Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center and Prime Time Treasures. She has been a member of Christ Lutheran Church for the last 25 years.
Florence traveled all over the world, but nothing was more fun than the annual Kruse Reunion that was held for fifty years around various lakes in Texas, where everyone that had a boat, brought it. She treasured her visits back in her hometown of Winters, especially at the family's annual Labor Day dove hunts which are still held after almost 70 years.
Florence will be remembered as a strong, smart, independent woman who put her love of God and family above all else. She was loving, caring and very generous with everyone she associated with. She will be dearly missed.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Dick and Lena Kruse; her husband, Charles Secrest; her in-laws, Winona and Clifford Secrest; her brother Richard Kruse and wife Ernestine; her sister Virgie and husband Drew Cromer; her sister Ruby Lee and husband J.T.
Lucas; her sister-in-law Lora Mae Kruse; her brother-in-law Ike Splawn; her sister- and brother-in-law Ruth and Wayne Lowe; and her son-in-law David Abbey.
She is survived by her three children: Steve (Koleen), David (Candyce), and Stephanie Abbey; her grandchildren: Elizabeth Secrest, Emily Secrest, Grace Shield (Brian), Philip Secrest (Shelbie), Blake Abbey, and Brynn Abbey; and her great-granddaughter, Caroline Shield. She is also survived by her sister Dorothy Splawn, her brother Delbert Kruse, and many beloved nieces and nephews.
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