Florus Chandler, 97, of Fort Worth, Texas, died March 17, 2014.

She was born Feb. 20, 1917, to Jacob and Emma Zimmer in Valmeyer. She started writing poetry in her childhood, and later won awards for poetry and hymn writing in Illinois and Texas. She continued this throughout her life, writing her last poem in December 2013.

She moved to Texas in 1943 to marry Ray J. Chandler, and was privileged to be at home with her four children when they were young. During that time, she served in many capacities in PTA, including president of groups in Fort Worth and Everman. When her children entered college, she worked as a proofreader at the All Church Press, and later as an office secretary until her retirement. She volunteered at the Bread Basket Ministry for 18 years, sometimes taking her grandchildren along so they could learn the joy of helping others. She is a graduate and former leader of the Fort Worth Bible Study Fellowship.

Florus and her husband joined Arborlawn United Methodist Church in 1982. She organized prayer groups and was a well-known prayer warrior. She served as a Sunday school teacher for the Baker Burns Class and was very active in the United Methodist Women serving as spiritual growth chairman.

Florus is remembered by her children as a master cook from the traditional school — she loved to put on a big meal for her family. Born during World War I, she witnessed much history and retained a remarkable memory for details of past events. She was a wonderful resource to her neighbors, even helping balance checkbooks for her younger neighbors when she was in her eighties. Family, faith and friends were most important to her.

Survivors include daughter Dianne Colburn; son Ray (Carrie) Chandler of Fort Worth; son Roy (Pat) Chandler of Albuquerque, N.M.; daughter Cathie (Ken) Read of Burleson; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband.

Visitation is 5 to 7 p.m. March 19 at Brown, Owens & Brumley Funeral Home, Fort Worth, Texas.

Funeral services are 2 p.m. March 20 at Arborlawn United Methodist Church, 5001 Briarhaven Road, Rev. Ben Disney officiating.

Burial will follow at Prairie Springs Cemetery in Burleson.

Memorials may be made to Bread Basket Ministry or to Arborlawn United Methodist Church.