Winifred Eileen Flatt

Winifred E. Flatt, age 80, died Thursday, November 4, 2010 at Bortz Health Care of Warren. She was born on April 4, 1930 in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of the late Wilfred and the late Winnie (nee: Bridge) Deake. A loving wife, mom, grandmother and friend, Winifred loved spending time with her family & friends, and was especially fond of the table games they would enjoy together. Whether it was playing cards, the excitement of bingo, or her favorite game, Rummikub, she was always up for a challenge and cherished the moments that family & friendship times provided. Especially so were her weekly gin rummy sessions with her friends, Mrs. Kramer and Mrs. Marie. As for a little fun outside of the house, Winifred loved the sport of bowling and was a familiar face at both Pastime and Arc Lanes. A consummate homemaker as well, she knew her way around the kitchen and was skilled in so many ways. When it came to baking, her children recall the magic she performed with her famous cakes. Not only were they tasty treats, but they were also works of art through her talents in decorating them, too. With her frosting cone in hand, (real frosting, made from scratch), her cakes were her easels, a skill learned from decorating classes she took earlier in life. Another family recollection was in what a proficient canner she was. Utilizing the old world skill of food preservation, she spent many-an-hour over the stove canning her green beans, beets, corn and pickles...all grown in her own garden. When it came time for Dad's favorite meal, the kids remember that familiar aroma of fried liver, smothered in onions, as it quaffed through the house. During the hard times, Winifred had a special gift of making fried baloney, with pork & beans, taste like a meal fit for a king...and always with a little ketchup for added flavor. But of all the kitchen memories to reflect upon, Patrick holds one of the most priceless. After turning on her electric oven one day, she became alarmed by the smell of something burning. She would soon discover that it was the paddleball paddle that Patrick had hidden inside the oven so Mom wouldn't use it on his bottom. So she, truly, could cook just about anything. As good as she was in the kitchen, even Mom enjoys a break from time-to-time, and a treat for Winifred would include the breakfast buffet at Big Boy's or the down-home cookin' at the Cracker Barrel. But perhaps most special of all were the trips to Red Lobster with Patrick & Bea where she would order her favorite, the shrimp platter. She ate like a bird, so there were always lots of doggie-bags that followed her home. WInifred was also an animal lover at heart, and her home was filled with a number of characters. There was her Toy Fox Terrier's, Susie & Sister, who were small in stature and large with personality. Then there was Ginny, the coal bin cat, who was renown for her mouse catching and bird hunting prowess. She also loved snuggling with Penny, her brown-haired miniature dachshund, who was convinced that she was just another one of the children. There was son Raymond's crazy cat, Baby Dean, who she would often be found chasing around the house. And lastly, she adored her cockatoo who was always ready to scold her for leaving the house. Upon sensing her return, he'd let her know just how put-out he was that she had left. Winifred loved to shop, but was quite frugal and responsible in obtaining her spoils. Burler's was the choice when it came to the cheap stuff, and Universal City was her favorite place for the family's clothing and shoes...and there were LOTS of shoes. For most everything else, you could find her scouring the aisles at Wal-Mart's and Banard's Super Store (in Cookeville, TN). Lastly, this dedication would be remiss without a couple of stories for a chuckle. Though life can serve up moments that seem tragic at the onset, it's amazing how we can reflect back and share a laugh. Patrick recalls; "Mom liked to have one of the neighbors on Ira trim her eyebrows, until one day when her friend made a gross mistake and ended up removing the entire eyebrow. Mom arrived home devastated." (Yet through the years, laughter replaced the trauma.) Patrick also recalls the time, during his stint in the army, when Mom would drive the 3 youngest children to school at Mound Park. She would shuttle them there & back in his Pontiac GTO. Being unfamiliar with the stick shift, the entire drive would be run with the car in 1st gear. And we can laugh, now! The memories are plentiful, and the lives she touched were many. The legacy of love she leaves behind is a testimony to the bountiful love she had to share. She will be missed immensely. Beloved wife of the late James Eveland, and more recently, the late Bobby Flatt. Dear mother of Patrick (Bea) Eveland, Donna (Stuart) Sanderson, Cheryl (Daniel) Kinner, Kim Floyd, Dorothy (Walter) Buhrie, and Raymond Eveland. Loving grandmother of 13 and great-grandmother of 9. Visitation for Winifred will be on Tuesday, November 9th from 3:00pm to 9:00pm at the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover Road at Common (12 1/2 Mile Rd) in Warren. She will be laid to rest at Stone Seminary Cemetery in Putnam County, Tennessee. Please share memories of Winifred at her guest book.