On Saturday, October 24, 2020, LuAnn Mae Metcalf, age 64 passed away peacefully at the Cox South Hospital, Springfield, Missouri. She was born August 13, 1956 in Pampa, Texas to Keith and Ilene Russell. She married Marty Metcalf in April 1978. They divorced in 2011, but remained very close.

LuAnn was very giving. She was always looking for ways to help others and offer support. She often took in additional children and families to help them until their circumstances changed. This would often lead to her doing without things to make sure others were cared for. She was also the kind of woman that was verbal when it came to things that she disagreed with or didn’t like, such as cheese and mushrooms—which she often got teased about especially by her son in law Shane who preceded her in death in 2017.

For many years LuAnn was a short order cook. She could cook anything you threw at her without a recipe and from scratch--a lost art in our world today. She was able to cook things she didn’t like to perfection such as Liver and Onions. It was amazing how she never had to taste things she didn’t like to make sure they were right and yet they turned out perfect. She worked for years at the Corner Café in Caldwell, KS and then at Rosie Joes in Ozark, MO.

LuAnn enjoyed watching the shows in MeTV such as The Rifleman, Gun Smoke and Bonanza. However, her biggest joy was spending time with her grandchildren. She loved being a grandma even more than a mother or aunt. She loved to spoil them and see their faces shine with joy. If a grandchild wanted something they knew grandma would let them have it, even if it was her last bit of money or item. She always seemed to have candy on hand for the grandkids. She loved listening to mostly country and the Oldies Rock such as Elvis. She was not one to bet with as she always won. She had a great smile and laugh and knew how to have fun.

LuAnn was preceded in death by her daughter Carolyn, father Keith, mother Ilene, brothers Lonte and Warren, nephew Jeremy, and son-in-law Shane. She is survived by her ex-husband Marty, three children LuAnna (Steve), Nicola (Harold), Levi (Shelby), eight grandchildren Ashlie, Jericho, Austin, Jodi, Austine, Jericha, Jacob and Payton, three great grandchildren Brayden, Bryson and Isaiah, three sisters Keithetta , Phyllis, Ellen (James), three brothers Monte, Steven (Kathy), Alan and several cousins, nieces and nephews. All of these she loved and touched deeply.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 29th, 2020 at the Ava Family Funeral Home Chapel in Ava, MO at 10:00 am. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 at the Ava Family Funeral Chapel in Ava, MO from 5-7 pm. Burial will follow at Union Grove Cemetery.

Larry D Bradshaw, 66 of Mansfield, Missouri passed peacefully on Friday, October 23, 2020.  He was born to Jack and Eula (Tyson) Bradshaw on November 11, 1953 in Norwood, Missouri.  Larry was a 1971 graduate of Norwood High School where he was a member of The Crimson Grapes Band.
 
Larry was a graduate of Drury University and a teacher a t Ava School District for 20 years.  Larry had many talents and abilities.  He was a master craftsman, animal lover and Ford collector.
 
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Jackie Bradshaw of Norwood and Harold Joe of Kansas City, Missouri.
 
He is survived by his loving wife, Nanda (Casteel) Bradshaw, who he married on August 12, 1972, his brothers, Ray (Barbara) Bradshaw of Springfield, Missouri and Bill (Judy) Bradshaw of Norwood, Missouri, sister-in-law, Ann Raney and many nieces and nephews.
 
Graveside services will be held at Retherford Cemetery on Saturday, October 24, 2020 at 2:00 PM. A memorial service will be held at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to Seasons Hospice of Springfield, Missouri or No Kill Animal Shelter.

Arrangements are by Ava Family Funeral Home.  

Lousie Pennington entered this world on February 2, 1931, in Arno, Missouri.  She ended her earthly life on October 13, 2020, at Cox Hospital, Springfield Missouri.

Friends have described her as an "independent spitfire".   She always said she "did it her way."  She worked in healthcare being kind and generous with those she cares for.  Deer hunting season was a big event at her house, not that she hunted, but she always had a pot of coffee on for those who were hunting on the farm, it was often accompanied by one of her delicious blackberry cobblers or angel food cakes.  The comradery shared was a special time for all who came into her home.  She enjoyed the outdoors and helping neighbors building a fence was not a chore for her but a fun time.  Her dogs, Freckles, Twister, and Baby were an important part of her life in her later years.
 
​She was preceded in death by mother Bessie Cole and Clark Cole, and her husband Doc Pennington.

She is survived by her daughter Markette Maples, her granddaughter Mellody Maples.  She will be deeply missed by Vern and Kathleen Deatherage who were not only close friends but relatives as well.  Her unique personality will be missed and remembered by all who knew her.
Graveside services will be held on Thursday, October 15, 2020, at 2:00 PM at Huffman Cemetery.  For of the service please go to www.facebook.com/avafamilyfuneralhome .

​All arrangements are under the care of Ava Family Funeral Home.

Norma L. Zellner began her earthly life on March 8, 1923, and departed this life on October 6, 2020, at Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare Ava, MO where she had resided for several years.   She was born to Matthew and Rose Kevett Boder in Ottertail, Minn.
 
As the eldest of twelve brothers and sisters, it was often her job to care for the younger children.  Life was not always easy for Norma, at the age of 13 she started working in homes cleaning and doing housework for $3 a week.   She and her husband Lenard moved to Ava to a home North of Ava where they enjoyed gardening. Their strawberry patch was well known as neighbors often visited it.  Norma loved to walk in the woods near Bryant Creek on the back of their farm.  She had a green thumb and raised beautiful flowers which she shared with people.  Norma was a gifted musician, who shared her music with residents of nursing homes and senior citizens centers as long as she was able.  Her folk and gospel music made the day brighter for many people as she strummed her guitar and yodeled.   

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lenard, her son Gary and niece Jane.

Cremation and all arrangements are under the care and direction of Ava Family Funeral Home.  She will be laid to rest in the Ava City Cemetery next to her beloved husband at a later date.   

Jay R. Downen was born on October 14, 1941 in Gault Mo, in Grundy County, MO.  J.R.’s parents Harry and Lela (Smith) worked in Chicago, Hannibal, and Wichita to buy Green Castle Farm where J.R. and his sister Phyllis enjoyed growing up. 
 
J.R.’s life was influenced greatly by his Great-Grandma Taylor who prayed for her family and Mrs. Yardley, his teacher in the one room country school prayed and read the Bible toher students.  In 1952 Maud Kahl and Mamie Alvine came to Green Castle and due to their influence J.R.’s mother was saved.  His mother would read Egermeier’s Bible Stories to them while Harry was working at General Motors in Kansas City. 
 
Brother D.P. Foster took the family to church in Kansas City until J.R. started driving in 1957.  During this time Winfield Poe came and preached a revival that saw J.R. and his sister Phyllis saved on November 3, 1953.  After being saved J.R. wanted to become a Missionary and he often witnessed to those around him including giving tracts to his English teacher.  J.R. prayed the rest of the year to be able to go to Bible school.
 
J.R. and Phyllis attended Gravette Bible School for J.R.’s 8th grade year.  For his 9th and 10th grade year he attended Kirksville Bible College. He attended Kansas City College and Bible School from 1957-1965. While there Dr Cowen became a true friend.  Sister Kristee and Brother James would help him get jobs.  At one time while in Kansas City he ran out of gas on Rainbow Boulveard and coasted into a Phillips 66 Station to get $0.18 worth of gas to get him to class. 
 
From 1965-1966 J.R. attended Kirksville State Teachers College and pastored a church.  On March 1, 1964 J.R. married Mary Elizabeth Hoover, who also had aspirations to be a missionary. To this union two children were born, Twila and Roger. They would move to  the Brainerd Indian School in Black Hills, South Dakota.  They later moved to the Cheyenne Indian Reservation.  In 1969 J.R. worked at Lame Deer trading post where he cut hair, worked part-time in a saw mill and contracted a trash route.  Later J.R. would pastor an Indian church while Mary played the piano, sung, and taught VBS.  The moved close to the Salt River Indian Reservation in Arizona where Daughter Twila was saved on her 6th birthday.  While in Arizona J.R. wore many hats that included; Sunday School teacher, cleaned water coolers, roofing the church, and fixing cars.  In order to make a living he working in a machine shop, which was a job he loved, and was a school janitor.  He also taught Occupational Education at Carl Hayden School, he also had a job as an air compressor salesman, and worked as an auto mechanic.
 
After moving to Douglas County, Missouri the Mt. Zion Bible School became his address and the students became his family until God called him home on September 30, 2020.
 
J.R. was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Twila, and sister Madine.
 
He is survived by his son Roger; sisters Mary and Phyllis, as well as two brothers Larry and Alvin. Students, staff, and alumni at Mt Zion Bible School will deeply miss him.  During his lifetime he influenced an untold number of people in personal and spiritual ways. 
 
JR said “I am ready to go to Heaven, Twila Fae will be waiting to show me round heaven, after I have hugged Jesus!!”


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