Burial will be at the Forest Hill Cemetery near Mt. Etna in Adams County. Memorials may be directed to Alegent Health Mercy Hospital and/or United Methodist Church of Corning.

Florence James the daughter of Alva and Pearl (Morgan) Bissell, was born on July 6, 1911 in Mutual, Oklahoma. Florence entered eternal rest on Monday, November 3, 2008 at Alegent Health Mercy Hospital in Corning, Iowa at the age of ninety-seven years, four months and one day.

One of eleven children, Florence was four years old when the family moved from Oklahoma to Cass County by team and wagon. Florence graduated from Massena High School in 1928.

On August 18, 1929, Florence was united in marriage to Merlin Weetman James and seven children were born to bless this union: Ivan Loye, Merlin Virgil, Roger Lee, Otho Dale, Fred Alva, Gary Arthur and Linda Coriene. Merlin and Florence lived in Adams County, and worked for Merlin's folks. Together they managed a herd of Holstein milch cows, later adding in the Limosine breed and Hereford stock cows. Florence was a farmwife and a homemaker. She also worked for thirty years in various restaurants. She worked at the Coffee Shop starting in 1950 as a cook. In 1958, she owned and operated the shop for about 18 months. Florence was also a cook at the Iowana Hotel in Creston and Bishop's Cafeteria in Des Moines, traveling home on the weekends. She will best be remembered for her pies and cinnamon rolls. Florence moved to Corning in November of 1983, after Merlin's death.

Florence was a longtime member of the United Methodist Church in Corning; Corning Saddle Club, 4H and Farm Bureau member. She was an avid quilter at the church, having made more than 100 quilts.

Left to cherish Florence's memory are her sons: Ivan (wife Margaret) James of Corning, Iowa, Merlin James of Villisca, Iowa, Roger (wife Donna) James of Lenox, Iowa, Fred (wife Nancy) James of St. Paul Park, Minnesota, Gary James (special friend Ilene Coverdale) of Creston, Iowa; daughter, Linda England of Corning, Iowa; sister, Iada McKee of Massena, Iowa; twenty-one grandchildren; fifty-three great-grandchildren; twenty-two great-great grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Preceding Florence in death were her parents, husband, Merlin in 1983; son, Otho James, as a young boy; four sisters: Esther Casteel, Edna Scott, Alma Schrader, Cleda Paul; five brothers: Claude, Ansel, Huber, Ivan and Raymond Bissell; grandsons: Dale and Bill James; great-grandson, J.J. James.