Florence ‘Flo’ Garland

Florence "Flo" (Dobbs) Garland, 74, of Monroe, died Monday, April 20, 2015, at her home. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 25 at the Monroe United Methodist Church with burial following at Silent City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Memorials may be directed to Hospice of Jasper County of the Monroe United Methodist Church and condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com

Flo was born Aug. 3, 1940, to Charles and Luella Dobbs. Flo was born in Oregon but grew up and graduated from Ackley High School in 1958. Later that year Flo came to the Monroe area where she met Jim Garland. Jim and Flo were married Dec. 18, 1958, in Mt. Pleasant. To this union two children were born, Christy and Marty. Flo worked in the payroll department at Maytag for 30 years until her retirement in 1996.

Flo was a devoted wife, mom, grandmother and friend. She loved to sew, quilt and go to her TOPS group. She was also a member of the Red Hat Society and enjoyed a good game of golf. Flo would show up at her grandkids’ activities with giant cookies for the kids and parents to enjoy. You would also see her always with a pad and pencil at every game to take stats and neither the umpire nor scorekeeper would dare question her record keeping.

She was preceded in death by her parents; son Marty; and her sister Jo Justice. Those left to honor her memory include husband Jim Garland of 56 years; daughter Christy (Barry) Zerley; grandchildren Brianna and Ethan Zerley; sisters Carole Rons, Karen Anderson Terri Jordan, Charlene Lewis and Dawn Aalbers; brothers, Chuck Dobbs and Donnie Dobbs; her many nieces and nephews; her sister-in-law Julie (Carroll) Brodersen; plus her many friends.