Floree Christine Mccullough

Floree Christine McCullough was born on November 19, 1938 to the late Blondell Elizabeth Vanderhorst Small and the late Joseph Allen Small in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Floree attended the James G. Blaine School until eighth grade, then Gillespie Junior High School for one year until she earned entrance into Germantown High School.

While in high school, Floree worked hard and proudly earned academic honors in all subjects. She enjoyed ballet and tap in the school's dance group where she performed at the Public Schools on Parade at the Academy of Music in downtown, Philadelphia. She graduated at the head of her class in 1956.

Floree met William Lesaine McCullough in Philadelphia while attending elementary school and living in the James Weldon Johnson Housing Projects in North Philadelphia. Floree worked for Bell Telephone in Philadelphia as a trained telephone operator. In 1958, Floree and William married at St. Carthage Catholic Church in West Philadelphia. She began a life with the United States Military as a Navy wife while maintaining her work ethic as a telephone operator. Early in her marriage Floree found time to model for Jive and Sepia Magazines. The young couple settled in Rhode Island as William was station there. While living in Rhode Island, they were blessed with their first child, Dominique Floree. Two years later, Francoise Lauren was born in Philadelphia. During their twenty years with the United States Navy, the family moved to Okinawa; China Lake, California and Norfolk, Virgina before settling in West Covina, California.

After Floree returned to California in 1976, she began working for the United States Government as a Quality Assurance Specialist in the General Services Administration. Her duties took Floree to Hawaii, New Mexico, Arizona and many sections of California. She was a top government worker who was often praised and known for her detailed and precise inspections and written reports regarding the General Services Administrations rules and regulations and interactions with contracted businesses. After 42 years of faithful service, Floree retired in 2011.

Floree loved reading. She was known to devour books, sometimes reading several genres at the same time. Wherever the family moved, Floree was sure to pack up her beloved books to accompany the family on their journey. She also enjoyed cowboy movies and murder mysteries, most notably, the Midsomer Murder Mystery Series. In her younger years, Floree read everything from Agatha Christie, Ellery Queen to James Baldwin. In later years, Floree enjoyed Daphne DuMaurier, J. R. R. Tolkien, Stephen King, Walter Mosley, Anne Rice and J. K. Rowling. If it was a murder mystery, she could usually figure out the "whodunit" before the book ended.

Any rendering of Floree McCullough's life would be remiss without mentioning her love of classical music. She adored Giacomo Puccini's music, especially the melodrama as noted in Madame Butterfly and La Boheme. Art was yet another interest for Floree. She spent many hours exploring museums as she travelled the world, but she could not pass up any gallery that exhibited paintings by the Native American Artist, R. C. Gorman of Taos, New Mexico.

Since she valued education, Floree sought higher education for herself by attending Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California to study Computer Technology and French. Before it was the rage, Floree understood the workings of a computer and was keen to learn more about the Internet and any other technology.

Floree was an avid traveler who took every opportunity to see the world. She has visited Italy, Ghana, Benin, South Africa, Botswana, France, Spain, Portugal, Singapore, China and many other areas around the world. She enjoyed meeting new people and especially appreciated how other people lived, raised children, cooked food and educated themselves. Floree McCullough had many wonderful conversations on her foreign journeys and her home reflected her many travels. Her passport was full of many stamps from memorable corners of the earth.

Floree took extra care with her family who she loved so much. She always lit up and gave a special smile whenever family members entered a room. For sure, Floree will be missed by her family who loved her as much as she loved them.

Floree leaves to cherish her memory, her husband of sixty years, William McCullough, two daughters; Dominique Hollier-Shipp and son-in-law Larry Shipp of West Covina, California; and Francoise McCullough of South Pasadena, California; one sister, Blondell Eleanor Roundtree of Wallingford, Pennsylvania; four grandchildren: William (Terra), Dominick (Amanda), Devin and Maya; five great grandchildren: Joie, Logan, Logan, Zoie, Chloe and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Floree was preceded in death by her sisters, Marian Stalworth and Josephine Leonard.

Loving Submitted, The Family.