| Memorial: Grace Eleanor Moore Odle Morehouse |
I am including parts of the service that were held at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church on January 12, 2008. The service was written by Grace many years ago, who arranged everything from the hymns she wanted played (and which edition they should be played from I might add) to her own benediction and many other parts of the service.
As a lasting tribute to Grace, this will remain part of the website, and if you would like to add a memory or story about Grace, please get in touch with Mary Epperson, our webmaster, and she will get it on the website. This includes any pictures that you might have and want to share with everyone.
Mary Fagan, Grace's daughter, also wrote a second piece that is listed under our “Living Saints” section and you can find it here:
Grace Morehouse
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Memorial Service
Grace Eleanor Moore Odle Morehouse
Grace Eleanor Moore Odle Morehouse
Prayer:
- Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may more perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn #140 Great is Thy Faithfulness
Scripture Readings:
- Psalm 100
- Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with glassness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his, we ar ehis people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever, his faithfulness continues through all generations.
- Psalm 8
- O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silent the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heaens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
- Micah 6:8
- He has showed you, O man, what is good and what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
- Hebrews 1:1-3, 13
- Verses 1 through 3: In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
- Verse 13: To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?
- Psalm 16
- Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge. I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those will incrase who run after other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips. Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not bandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known o me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
A Personal Meditation written by Grace:
- Written by Grace around her 82nd birthday
Sun. Jan. 21, 1996
Yesterday I was leafing through the Bible looking for passages suggested in the Prayer Calendar. For some reason the Bible fell open to Psalm 145. I decided to read it. In verse 4 it says, “One generation shall laud Thy works to another, and shall declare Thy mighty acts.” Perhaps that is what God is calling me to do this morning.
This past Thurs. I celebrated my 82nd birthday. What a privilege it has been to have these many years to walk with God and to enjoy His wonderful, beautiful world.
How fortunate we are to know God as revealed to us in the life of Jesus Christ---a God of love and caring---not a God of anger and revenge or capricious acts.
God has rejoiced when I rejoiced. He has suffered along with my times of suffering. I have failed Him many times, but He has patiently urged and encouraged me to do that which I should do and those things which I know I can do for mankind.
My father was a minister in the Methodist Church. You could say that I grew up in the church. It was a protected life, and yet the church has brought the world and its people into my life. That included my loving husband and each one of you. How many people go through life never knowing a good person---someone who cares and loves them?
I weep and I know God weeps for us when we follow lives of selfishness and greed, but God never gives up and urges us to continue striving to find His way of loving and caring.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Doxology #95
Tributes:
- Sarah Odle Barbar
- Mary Odle Fagan
Hymn 413, A Charge to Keep I Have
Benediction written by Grace
- Dust to dust, or ashes to ashes, is the destination of our earthly bodies. Our spirit or person returns to God’s care. I have always been grateful that Jesus Christ helped us to know that God is a demanding God; asking us to be all we can be, but at the same time being a loving and caring God. Amen.
Pastoral Benediction
Piano and organ prelude and postlude as well as hymns during the service were provided thanks to the great talents of Ellen Byers and Mary Epperson.
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While this was the end of the service, there were two pieces included in the bulletin: a meditation that Grace had written, and a small biography about her. I am including these for those that would be interested.
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My Meditation
By Grace E. Morehouse
My Meditation
By Grace E. Morehouse
God gives purpose for my life.
My life has been filled with many, many wonderful people from the janitor of my father’s church in Corydon, who believed that as a child of God he had worth, to G. Bromley Oxman, a bishop and presidentof DePauw -- and the many sincere seekers of God in between. My heart aches for those who do not have God in their lives, for it is God from whom I get my reason for living and a purpose for my life.
I have been surrounded by people who have been concerned for my well-being.
God has always been available, always ready to hear my prayers, always present.
Life has given me many opportunities to serve God and my fellow travelers.
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Biography
Biography
Born January 18, 1914 in Crothersville, Indiana to Rev. Joseph G. Moore and Lou Bruner Moore.
Graduated Shortridge High School, Indianapolis, 1931.
Graduated DePauw University, Class of 1935.
Married Rev. Estel I. Odle on September 1, 1936, in Rushville, Indiana and went back with him to Boston University where Estel was attending seminary. The first parish was Colfax, where their first daughter, Sarah Jean, was born. They next served at Oxford when Mary Esther was born. The last parish was Zionsville, after which Estel was assigned a conference job. In 1956 he moved on to the Detroit Council of Churches. There Grace enrolled at Wayne State University, earned her certification, and taught kindergarten for nine years. Estel died in 1964.
Grace returned to West Lafayette around 1967 where she taught 1st Grade for 3 years at Hershey School. After retiring, she taught kindergarten at Burgett Day Care Center.
Married Alan L. Morehouse on September 20, 1977.
Grace specialized in Christian education and pre-school children. For many years she taught church school and also training and leadership classes for other teachers.
Grace was a member of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, the Ruth Jordan Circle, Methodist Federation for Social Action, Church Women United, ACLU, Audubon Society, Nature Conservancy, and the National Wildlife Federation.
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The last two sections are going to contain memories of those who knew Grace and wish to share them and pictures of Grace. If you would like to add your own memory of Grace (or add a comment from someone else's memory), please get in touch with me (Mary, the webmaster) and I will be happy to add them to the page as well as any pictures you would like to add.
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Memories of Grace in writing:
Grace has been a mentor and encourager for me. As a new member at Mount Zion many years ago she encouraged me to be more active in the United Methodist Women organization and to accept leadership roles. She was always there as a support person. If she had encouraged me to take a responsibility she would be there to lend a helping hand and advice when needed. Grace was always a teacher.
Grace taught our United Methodist Women unit how we could participate in helping to serve the needs of people, both locally, nationally and world-wide. Social issues were also a high priority with her and she kept us well informed much in advance of the issue being in public news.
Grace and Alan always were there to volunteer to serve at the Food Pantry, even when their health was declining. I remember Grace’s hospitality as various Mt. Zion committees would meet at their home. We would make plans while seated around their dining table enjoying the bird sanctuary view outside the picture window.
I will be forever thankful for her friendship.
Grace taught our United Methodist Women unit how we could participate in helping to serve the needs of people, both locally, nationally and world-wide. Social issues were also a high priority with her and she kept us well informed much in advance of the issue being in public news.
Grace and Alan always were there to volunteer to serve at the Food Pantry, even when their health was declining. I remember Grace’s hospitality as various Mt. Zion committees would meet at their home. We would make plans while seated around their dining table enjoying the bird sanctuary view outside the picture window.
I will be forever thankful for her friendship.
Vera Epperson
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Memories of Grace in pictures:
To see the large version, click on the thumbnail.
 01-18-1914 |  [at the age of 5] |  9 or 10 |
 |  Wedding Party 9-1-1936 |  Honeymoon |
 Hat Erra |  |  1943 |
 1953 |  |  the late 80s |
 Again, 1984 |  Circle |  |
 Geo. Davis Manor 2005 |