Bertha Charlotte Chesser Mcqueen Obituary (1916

Mrs. Bertha Charlotte Chesser McQueen, age 96, of Madison, Indiana was born in Westport, Indiana, on August 1,1916, the fourth daughter of Omer Acin and Lora Ann Maple Chesser. She was raised in Westport and graduated in 1934 from Westport High School. She attended business school in Indianapolis and worked in a lawyer's office there. In 1937 she moved to Madison to help her sister Hazel with her new baby and the work involved with the Madison Fertilizer Company, also known as McQueen Brothers. On May 26, 1942she was married to John P. McQueen by his father, the Rev. Arthur McQueen. This union was blessed by a daughter, Lavita Jayne, in 1944. Bertha was very active in the North Madison Methodist Church as a Sunday School teacher, Bible School organizer, delegate to the Indiana Annual Conference, and member of the WSCS which she served in many local and district offices. She enjoyed attending Rivervale Church Camp and the Ashram Spiritual retreats. Bertha also was active in PTA, MHS Band Parents and was a Girl Scout leader. For many years she was a salesperson at The Plaza Shop. She was a very hard worker, and insisted on doing things for herself. She was very proud of her electric chain saw and was still cutting and stacking wood at age 82. Bertha was very organized and kept meticulous record. For enjoyment she knitted and crocheted, played Scrabble and did word puzzles, and read. She took many trips with her daughter and grandchildren, camping and visiting historical sites. In 1989 she took her first trip abroad and celebrated her 73rd birthday in France. Her next birthday was in Costa Rica on a family trip. In 1992 she went to Kenya and Zanzibar, crossed the Equator and rode a camel. 1993 found her in Scandinavia, crossing the Arctic Circle, and also travelling by hydrofoil to Estonia and by train to Latvia. Her last trip abroad was to visit Belgium in 1997. She enjoyed keeping in touch with her extensive family at reunions and celebrations and was always ready to go. Bertha died Sunday, February 24, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at the home of her daughter near Manville, Indiana. A LOVING FAMILY Bertha will be missed by her daughter: Lavita McQueen Shelton of Madison, Indiana; her granddaughters: Allison Shelton Brady and her husband, Charlie of Mooresville, North Carolina, Stephanie Shelton of Indianapolis, Indiana, Nancy Thompson of Madison, Indiana; her grandson: Justin Shelton Osadjan and his partner, Mark Osadjan of Chicago, Illinois; her great grandchildren: Richard Thompson, Lauren Thompson King; Nathan Thompson and Paul Hayden Brady; one great great grandson, Isaac Michael King; her special nieces who were like daughters: Rosemary McQueen Day and her husband, David of Indianapolis, Indiana and Marilyn McQueen of Madison, Indiana; her sister in law: Lois Jackson of Madison, Indiana; several other nieces, nephews, and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents, Omer Acin and Lora Ann Maple Chesser; her husband, John P. McQueen died May 3, 1971; her sisters, Helen Chesser, Margaret Herndon, Hazel McQueen and Inez McGuire Dixon; her great grandson, Hayden Christopher Thompson; her son in law, Dwight LaValle Shelton died, Nov. 30, 2009. FUNERAL CEREMONY Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 2:00 p.m., by the Rev. Mark Fisher at the North United Methodist Church, 2235 Allen Street in Madison, Indiana. Interment will follow in the Springdale Cemetery in downtown Madison, Indiana. VISITATION Friends may call Wednesday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive in Madison, Indiana and Thursday from 1:00 p.m. until time of the service at the North United Methodist Church, 2235 Allen Street in Madison, Indiana. MEMORIAL EXPRESSIONS Memorial contributions may be made to the Indiana Methodist Children's Home or the North United Methodist Church. Cards are available at the funeral home. To send a flower arrangement in memory of Bertha Charlotte Chesser McQueen, please click here to visit our sympathy store.