Flo Senter

Florence Ruth "Flo" Senter, a beloved wife, mother, and community member, passed away peacefully on August 1, 2023, in Salem, Oregon. Born on January 13, 1949, in Coquille, Oregon, Flo's life was characterized by her loving, kind, and selfless nature.

Flo was the heart of her family, marrying her husband, John Senter, on April 29, 1979. She was a devoted homemaker and mother with her son, Ethan and daughter, Emily. Always a steadfast partner, Flo put the needs of her loved ones before her own. Her home was a testament to her love for her family, adorned with family photographs and filled with the warmth of her handmade quilts and crocheted afghans.

A proud graduate of Coquille High School in 1967, Flo embarked on a successful career in retail sales, dedicating 30 years of her life to the South Salem Kmart before retiring in April 2001. Despite her busy work schedule, she always found time to engage in her many interests.

Flo had a passion for the outdoors, often hiking and camping with her family. She was an avid gardener, cultivating a variety of vegetables, berries, and spices, and preserving her garden's bounty through canning, freezing, and drying. She was a amateur botanist who could tell you what plants and berries were edible and she could identify all manner of wild birds. She also studied medicinal plants that might be growing close at hand, and was very interested in herbal remedies for various conditions. Her adventurous spirit led her to embark on a solo trip to Paris and London in 1977, and a church mission trip to Venezuela, where she taught local youths to play softball.

She was an active member of her church and a quilting circle in Stayton. Flo's kindness extended beyond her immediate circle, as evidenced by the time she taught a neighbor's daughter to crochet a chemo cap for her father undergoing cancer treatment. The cap, crafted with Flo's guidance, became the man's favorite.

Flo's independence and determination were remarkable. She navigated her single years without a driver's license, relying on her bicycle and the city bus for transportation. It wasn't until she was expecting her first child that she learned to drive. In 2000, she purchased her first and only brand-new car, a blue 2000 Saturn coupe with a manual transmission, which she affectionately named 'Blue Rhapsody'.

Florence Senter's life was a testament to her loving, kind, and selfless nature. Her legacy will live on in the hearts of her family, friends, and all those whose lives she touched. She will be remembered for her unwavering kindness, her adventurous spirit, and her devotion to her family. Her memory will continue to inspire and guide those who were fortunate enough to know her.

She is survived by her husband, John Senter; children Ethan Hudson Senter and Emily Colleen Senter.

A service will be held on 1pm, Saturday, September 16, 2023, at Salem First Church of the Nazarene 1550 Market St. NE Salem, OR with a private burial at Union Hill Cemetery in Sublimity, Oregon.