Effie "Irene" Rank age 84 of Warsaw, Missouri died at the Kansas City Hospice House on November 03, 2024.
Effie Irene Garrison Jennings Rank was born in Hastain, Missouri on July 19, 1940 to Willie Washington Garrison and Mary Evelyn Allen Garrison. She was, of course, early which became a life-long habit for her. Her cousin, Dr. Guss Salley, was on the way to deliver Effie Irene as he had delivered all her siblings to date. These include W.Y. Garrison, Mary Ethel Garrison, and Clayton Garrison. Irene, however, had already been delivered with the help of a midwife by the time Doc arrived. In any event, his visit wasn't wasted because Willie had a spider bite that needed tending to.
Irene's parents named her Effie after one of her father's favorite sisters, but she was always called Irene or by her family nickname "Dude." Young Irene longed to be a cowgirl, or at least to dress like one. Willie and Mary went on to have three more children after her Aia Garrison, Evelyn Garrison, and Roy Garrison. They lived in a log cabin on her parent's farm until Willie built a house closer to the highway.
Irene married early. She was almost sixteen years old when she married Willard Kenneth Jennings in 1956. They settled down in the Warsaw area to farm. Irene milked cows everyday, kept a vegetable garden, among many other farm chores, and she kept house and raised children. She and Willard had five children together-Kenneth Michael Jennings, Stanley Richard Jennings, William Marian Jennings, Allesia Irene Jennings, and Effie Jennings. She barely left the farm for almost fifteen years.
In 1970 Irene and her children moved to town. Besides caring for her children as a single parent, she took on many odd jobs. She babysat, washed dishes, cleaned houses, took in laundry, mowed lawns, and cared for the elderly. Irene enjoyed caring for the elderly so much that she eventually earned a CNA license and worked in nursing homes for several years. After that, she used her skills to care for elderly people in their own homes. They became her friends.
Eventually, Irene met Harold "Bud" Rank and they were married in 1972. They had one child together. Harold Lee Rank, Jr., called Buddy, was born about two weeks before his father died of a heart attack.
Irene Rank would be considered a hard worker by anyone's standards. Due to congenital cataracts, she never learned to drive. She walked everywhere and in all kinds of weather. Her own home was always spotless, neat, and organized. She was also a wonderful cook. The outside of her home was as well-cared for as the inside. She even painted her own house. She had a very green thumb and a way with flowers and plants that meant she could grow anything. The only time Irene could be seen sitting still is when reading a good book. She was a voracious reader and, by the end of her life, had her own small library. She augmented her eighth grade education through reading and educated herself. Irene Rank was a survivor.
Irene became a member of Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Warsaw and was baptized by Pastor Bill Hicks. She made many good friends at Cedar Grove, especially in her Sunday School class and Pastor Barry Edwards. When her health prevented her from attending church, members of the church would come to visit her in her home. This meant so much to Irene who eventually was unable to leave her home at all. They loved and helped her in so many ways.
Irene Rank was preceded in death by her maternal granparents Charles Allen and Margarett Skaggs Allen and her paternal grandparents William Young Garrison and Virginia Caroline Salley Garrison, her parents Willie and Mary Garrison, brothers W.Y. Garrison, Clayton Garrison, Aia Garrison, and Roy Garrison and an infant sister stillborn. She was also preceded in death by her beloved husband, Bud Rank. Before her death, Irene had lost four of her six children. These are Mike Jennings, Richard Jennings, William Jennings, and her beloved daughter Lisa Conroy, and a step-son Donnie Jennings.
Irene is survived by her sisters Mary Ethel Schultz of Lincoln, Missouri and Evelyn Bristow of Edwards, Missouri, and a sister-in-law, Joan Woodell Garrison of Kansas. She is also survived by her loving step son Bill Jennings and wife Debbie of McMinnville, Tennessee, son-in law Tom Conroy and wife Brenda of Sedalia, Missouri, her son, Harold Rank of Kansas City, Missouri and her daughter Effie Lutz and husband Dale of Galesburg, Illinois.
Grandma Rank loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren very much. Her grandchildren include Michael Jennings and wife Angela of Caseyville, Illinois, Chris Jennings of Oklahoma, Tim Conroy and wife Caitlin of Festus, Missouri, Shiloh Conroy of LaMonte, Missouri, Jakob Jennings of Galesburg, Illinois, Kaylin Stodgehill of Vincennes, Indiana, Shonna Heller of Vincennes, Indiana, Jennifer Catt and husband Tom of Pekin, Illinois, Madeline Lutz of Galesburg, Illinois, and Caroline Lutz of Galesburg, Illinois. Her beloved great grandchildren include Alice Jennings, Molly Jennings, Emmett Jennings, William Conroy, Rebecca Conroy, Adalynn Declue, Merideth Catt, Dani Rachael Catt, Makenna Catt, and Cash Wallace Jennings. She is also survived by her friends Garrold and Eunice Christenson who were loving family to her, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Arrangements for cremation and interment are under the direction and care of Reser Funeral Home in Warsaw. A memorial service for family and close friends is planned for Irene's birthday.
