Circa 1980s Mary Margaret Pearson, 85, Flora, passed away at 5:05 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18,

2009, at her

daughter ’s home in Delphi where she had resided since September.

Born April 23, 1924, in Bringhurst, she was the daughter of the late John Quincy and Cletus Wilson Clingenpeel. Her marriage was on Dec. 1, 1945, in Ockley, to Harold Pearson, who survives.

Mrs. Pearson was a lifetime area resident.

She was a retired cook and had been employed at Creative Holidaze, and Connie’s, JoAnn’s and Rainbow restaurants, all in Flora. She and her husband worked as custodians at the Carroll County Courthouse in Delphi for many years. She had also previously been employed at Sayco in Flora.

Mrs. Pearson attended the First Brethren Church in Flora.

She enjoyed cooking and baking and won many blue ribbons for her homebaked pies. She was thought of by many as the “world’s best pie maker.”

Surviving with her husband are two daughters, Sharon Herron (husband: Frank) of Delphi and Sarah Mummert (husband: Gary) of Monticello; a son, Dennis Underhill (wife: Vicki) of LaGrange, Iowa; a brother, Gerald Clingenpeel of Flora; two sisters, Diana Nevin and Bonnie Rieken, both of Flora; 10 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were three brothers, Wayne, Glen Sr., and Ed Clingenpeel.

Services were held Tuesday at Baker Funeral Home in Flora. Pastor Alvin Grumbling officiated. Burial followed at Maple Lawn Cemetery, Flora.

Memorials may be made to the Carroll County Cancer Society or to the SouthCare Hospice (addresses may be found at bakerfh.com).