My Dear Auntie!
I will always remember and cherish the special memories I have of our relationship and bond of the past years.  The many talks and giggles of both Rhea and Clem, sitting on the porch at the mobile home and also the meals we shared together when Jerry was flying after our move here to Florida.  You were more than just my aunt, but like a mom as well to me many times!

I always knew you prayed for us and our family because that is just who you were as an example of love and caring for one another. 

I'll miss you ... 'til we meet again in Heaven.

Love, 

Judy

Aunt Rhea was like a grandmother to me.  I have so many precious memories growing up with her, Uncle Clem, and my cousins, Sandy and Ritch.  Like when they would come visit us in Minnesota on  July 4th, and we would play softball and swim in our pool. When my family would go visit them in Sioux City and we would play the accordion in the basement, and the fun surprise visits to their ice cream shop in Florida, watching their faces light up when we would walk in the door.  But, it's the singing around the piano on Christmas Day, watching her dance and praise the Lord, that I will miss the most. 

When my cousins asked if I would sing at her memorial, I was honored and touched.  Aunt Rhea...  you are so loved and will be deeply missed.  

Laureen Stephens

Untitled Hymn

Weak and wounded sinner
Lost and left to die
O, raise your head, for love is passing by
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live!

Now your burden's lifted
And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain, so
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live!

And like a newborn baby
Don't be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk
Sometimes we fall, so
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live!

Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain, then
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live!

O, and when the love spills over
And music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside, then
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live!

And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side, and
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live!
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live!

Songwriters: Chris Rice / Christopher M. Rice

The song Home by Chris Tomlin - played at Rhea's service

This world is not what it was meant to be
All this pain, all this suffering
There's a better place waiting for me
In Heaven
Every tear will be wiped away
Every sorrow and sin erased
We'll dance on seas of amazing grace
In Heaven
In Heaven
I'm goin' home
Where the streets are golden
Every chain is broken
Oh I wanna go
Oh I wanna go
Home
Where every fear is gone
I'm in your open arms
Where I belong
Home
Lay down my burdens, I lay down my past
I run to Jesus, no turning back
Thank God Almighty, I'll be free at last
In Heaven
In Heaven
I'm goin' home
Where the streets are golden
Every chain is broken
Oh I wanna go
Oh I wanna go
Home
Where every fear is gone
I'm in your open arms
Where I belong
Blinded eyes
Will finally see
The dead will rise
On the shores of eternity
The trump will sound
The angels will sing
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
I am 
Goin' home
Where the streets are golden
Every chain is broken
Oh I wanna go
Oh I wanna go
Home
Where every fear is gone
I'm in your open arms
Where I belong
Where I belong
I'm goin' home
I'm goin' home
I'm on my way home
I'm goin' home

Songwriters: Chris Tomlin / Ed Cash / Jason Ingram / Jonas Carl Gustaf Myrin
Home lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Excerpts from tribute to Rhea on September 8, 2018

I have been honored to be Rhea’s daughter-in-law for 42 years.  Can you imagine not meeting your future daughter-in-law until the week she became your daughter-in-law?!  That is what happened as Ritch and I met and married in 5 months.  Rhea immediately contacted mutual friends at the church where we met and asked about me and my family.  Of course, the Mooneyham family received rave reviews!

Rhea was a True Grit; a female John Wayne.  After all, she was a cattle driver when she was young as she would work with her father driving cattle to their Iowa farm.  Rhea was Scottish/Irish; her maiden name was Irvine and she had the temperament to go with it.  Little did she know that her son would marry an Irish gal with a similar temperament!  Rhea and I had many discussions; many with different opinions but she always ended our time together with “I love you” and I would respond with “And I love you too, Re-Re.”

We all know the Bible verse Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”  Rhea did a very good job of obeying God’s Word with this verse and I thank her for that.  She has passed on the eternal faith of Christianity.  What a legacy to give your children to pass on to the next generation, then the next.

Whenever someone was discussed, Rhea would always want to know if they knew the Lord.  She was always concerned about the decisions her loved ones made in light of eternity.  Rhea’s suffering was great in her last few years on earth but she suffers no longer.  She has what she lived for; an eternity in heaven.


Terry and I  have been talking about our great memories of Clem and Rhea... and so many great moments came to mind!  Our most recent was  Rhea and Sandy's visit to Lake Okoboji - when several of us sang  old hymns and songs from the old First Assembly.  What beautiful music we all made.  That trip also included an evening at Jerry's Pizza, where Rhea was instantly sworn in as "head pizza maker"!  She was such a good sport and provided all of us with ample laughs.  We love her dearly and always will. We pray for His comforting love to surround each of you as honor your mom

We are grateful to have known Rhea.  She was fun, wise, and knowledgeable about Scripture, and what a prayer warrior!  We especially appreciate the close friendship she had with my parents during their retirement years.  The all had quite the time at the Goodrich Campground on the Iowa farm for many summers.

Your mom lived a rich life and heaven is now her home.  We are Blessed to have had her in our lives.  You all have a Godly legacy

We have so many great memories of   your mom, from hosting First Assembly youth in the basement of  your home in Sioux City to being a special friend to my parents in retirement years.  She has always been encouraging and lots of fun!  We know that Rhea is at peace now and that there will be reunions, with rejoicing, when she is reunited with your dad, our parents, and so many other loved ones

My grandmother was a warrior for the Lord on the Earth. I want to share the experience of when my grams left her earthly home and went to Heaven. The Lord is magnificent in all that he does and in his perfect timing, Sunday, September 2, 2018, my grandmother was laying in her hospice bed in her living room.  My aunt noticed that her breathing became more labored so she knelt down next to her and  read verses from the Bible.  As she read John 14: 1-3, " Don't let your hearts be bothered. Trust in God, and trust in me also. There is more than enough room in my Father's house.  If this were  not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?  When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am."  my grams took her last breath,  and the Lord took her home at 10:03pm.  I love you Grams, and I will see you soon.

I am so glad I had your mom in my life all these years (60yrs). All the memories I have are so precious.

This is the only picture I have of  my Dad with Rhea and Ruth.  Being younger I remember doing a sleep over in Sioux City, getting home sick and Dad coming in the middle of the night from Primghar to get me. With the family being spread out I didn’t have that much of an opportunity for memories. Condolences from your cousin’s family in Spokane.  Rick Irvine

My best memory is meeting up with Rhea and Sandra at Danny's in Cherokee, Iowa when they were back in Iowa...It was a memorable time and one I will cherish forever...meeting up with both  of you made me wish I would have known you better years ago, but we made up for lost time.  I found two very compassionate and loving people with a witty sense of humor and a love of God.  While this is a difficult time I know that with your faith you know she is at home with her Lord in Heaven and Clem and her are probably dancing and  visiting with our loved ones in heaven.  I'm sure dad is teasing and joking with her already...I don't really know Ritchie and his family, but know that I loved your mom.  My condolences and blessings to all of you.    

OBITUARY

Rhea J. Plummer

October 19, 1925 – September 2, 2018

Blount & Curry Funeral Home at Garden of Memories

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