Ethel M. Gerken, age 99 years, passed away Tuesday, December 29, 2015 at Golden Age Living Center, Stover, Missouri. Funeral services will be held Saturday Jan 2, 2016 at 2:30 PM with visitation 1 hour prior at Trinity Lutheran Church, Clinton, Missouri. Interment will follow at Englewood Cemetery Clinton, Missouri. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Trinity Lutheran Church or Golden Age Living Center and can be left in care of the funeral home. Fond memories and condolences can be left online at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com.

Ethel was born on June 4, 1916 to Joe L. and Lula M. (Harms) Kelb near Lincoln, Missouri. She attended Dillon school. Ethel later went on to marry George W. Brown from this union they had 2 children J.L. and Phebe. She worked in grocery stores in Lincoln, Missouri, and she was a member of the Lincoln Methodist Church. Later in life she married Richard Gerken and they made their home in Clinton, Missouri. Ethel became a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Clinton. In 2009 she moved to Golden Age Living Center in Stover, Missouri where she lived until her death.

She was preceded in death by her husband Richard Gerken and two sisters; Eva Thomas and Lola Kinkead.

Among survivors are her children, J.L. (Shirley) Brown and Phebe (George) Crafton, both of Sedalia, Missouri, a sister Joann Butler of Jefferson City, Missouri; six grandchildren, Mike (Tammie) Crafton of Fritch, Texas, Joe (Pam)Crafton of Sedalia, Missouri, Karen Crafton of Sedalia Missouri, Bill (Sheila)Brown of Clinton, Missouri,Roger Brown of Kirksville, Missouri, Donna (Kenneth) Henderson of Emden, Missouri,she also has ten great grandchildren and five great great grandchildren along with several nieces and nephews.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, Missouri.